288 ON SPHÆROCARPUS TERRESTRIS. 
1 to 4 an inch in diameter, of a thin, reticulated structure, 
attached to the earth by numerous fibrous radicles, and 
bearing, in clusters growing from its superior surface, (in 
large specimens sometimes as many as 100), obovate 
bladders or perianths, of a structure similar to, but more 
strongly reticulated than, the thallus itself. Perianths va- 
rying in size, the largest about -th of an inch in length, 
with an entire margined perforation at the summit, Each 
perianth, when not barren, produces, growing from its base 
within, an orange-shaped capsule th of an inch in diameter, 
bearing on its upper flattened side a short, conical process 
or s£yle. Capsule of a similar reticulated structure to the 
perianth, but much more delicate and transparent, and 
when viewed under a strong magnifying power, the spaces 
between the reticulations are seen to be filled up with 
numerous delicate little bladders or cells. It bursts irre- 
gularly, and contains from 200 to 300 perfectly spherical 
seeds, enveloped, in an early state, in a transparent watery 
fluid, which disappears as the capsule ripens. This fluid 
dries, on glass, in the form of irregular hexagons, of a 
greenish hue, which may probably be the cells which have 
contained the seeds, but if so, they are invisible, when wet, 
owing to their extremely delicate structure. Seeds very mi" — 
nute, appearing to the naked eye like yellow dust: when 
magnified, they are seen to be of the same reticulated — 
structure as the rest of the plant, though of a less firm 
. texture, and yellowish colour, turning brown by exposure 
Mingled with the seeds, are a small number of bright green — 
. coloured cells, occurring singly, or two or three together. 
‘Tas. IX. B.—Sphærocarpus terrestris. Fig. 1. thallus and — 
tufts of perianths, nat. size; f. 2. a portion of the same, - 
magnified ; f. 3. a perianth containing a ripe capsule, highly — ae 
magnified ; f. 4. a capsule, greatly magnified ; f. 5. seeds, pe 
magnified, shewing the liquid which surrounds them in the — 
capsule, dried in the form of hexagons, and the smal | oe 
. green cells which occur among the seeds ; f. 6. three seeds, 
