SCmSTOSTEGE.E. 



[ 6S0 ] 



SCHIZOCIILAMYS. 



bell-shaped. Inflorescence dioecious, plants 

 similar. 



The only species of this genns, the elegant 

 little Sch. osmuiidacea, Web. and Mohr (JSch. 



Fig. 627. 



Scliistostega osmundacea. 

 Leaves of barren branches. Magnified 50 diameters. 



pennata, Hook, and Taylor), occurs liere and 

 there in Great Britain. Tlie name was 

 derived from what appears to have been an 

 erroneous observation of Hedwig, who de- 

 scribed radiating fissures in the operculum, 



Fig. 628. 



Fig. 629. 



Fig. 



630. 



Scliistostega osmundacea. 



Fig. 628. A plant and fruit. Magnified 10 diameters. 



Fig. 629. Open capsule with operculum. Magnified 

 50 diameters. 



Fig. 630. Young capsule opened, showing the colu- 

 mella. Magnified 50 diameters. 



Avhich do not exist in living specimens. 

 The germinating confervoid prothallium of 

 this moss was described by Bridel as an alga, 

 under the name of Catoptridium smarag- 

 dimim ; Agardh described it as a Protococcus 

 {smarcu/dhvis) ; and it was long supposed to 

 be phosphorescent : this appears to be an 

 error : iSchistosfega grows on the roofs of 

 sandy caves and similar places; and the 



luminous appearance seems to arise from 

 the condensation and reflection of the little 

 daylight admitted, by the pellucid convex 

 cellules of the prothallium. 



SOHIZ.E'A, Smith.— A genus of Schi- 

 zaeaceous Ferns, of curious and elegant struc- 

 ture ; several species; exotic (figs. 631, 

 632). 



Fig. 681. 



Fig. 632. 



>-^ 



Schizsea dichotoma. 

 Fig. 631. A fertile pinna. Magnified 5 diameters. 



A pinnule with sporanges. Magnified 2.5 



Fig. 632. 

 diameters. 



-An order of Polv- 



SCHIZ.'EA'CEyE.- 



podiaceous Ferns. . 



Char. Sporangia 2-valved, opening down 

 the side, crowned by a complete operculiform 

 ring ; indusium none. Genera : 



Schizcea. Sporangia sessile, in 2-4 rows, 

 covering one side of close distichous spikes, 

 w-hich form separate fertile segments at the 

 apex of the fronds. 



Anemia. Sporangia small, very numerous, 

 forming a copiously branched panicle, di- 

 stinct from the leafy part of the frond. 



Moliria. Sporangia sessile, on the bark 

 of the leafy frond, near the edge. 



Trochopteris. Sporangia small, sessile, 

 placed irregularly round the edge on the 

 under side of the slightly contracted lower 

 lob(;s of the leafy frond. 



Lijgodhtm. Sporangia solitary, or casually 

 in paii-s, in the axils of large imbricated 

 clasping involucres, which form spikes, either 

 in separate pinufc or in lax rows along the 

 edge of the leafv ones. 



SCHIZOCH'LA]\IYS, Br.— A genus of 

 Palmellacese (Confervoid Algae). aS". gelati- 



