78 Bastow, Victorian llepalicw. [voi'^xxxi 



is set on the stem must be accurately determined. It may be 

 succubous, or vertical, or incubous ; it will come under one of 

 these three headings. If succubous it will belong to one of 

 the genera distinguished by a star (fig. 37). If the leaves are 

 vertical it will belong to one of the genera distinguished by 

 two stars (fig. 28) ; and if incubous, it will be distinguished by 

 three stars (tig. 24). 



jrd. — Note the perianth, whether it be leafy, or whether it 

 is a iieshy bag ; or it may not have a perianth. Assuming that 

 the leaves are succubous, and that the perianth is leafy, 



4th. — Ascertain whether the fruit is lateral or terminal. 

 Make a note of the particulars ascertained by observation, 

 then read the short descriptions of the genera in the key. We 

 may find that one genus has stipules, another without stipules, 

 or another one with the leaves deeply cleft, &c. The differ- 

 ences are sufficient to determine the genus. 



In the following Key to the (ienera of Hepaticie I have found 

 great assistance from the volumes by Engler and Prantl, and 

 especially in the illustrations on the HepatiCcC in i Tell., Abt. 3, 

 of that monumental work. I am quite conscious that the 

 key is not perfect — it has been atcomplished as well as my 

 abihty will permit ; but, as a rule, I have preserved the old 

 generic names by which the plants are best known in Austraha. 

 In my " Key to the Genera of Tasmanian Hepatic^e " the 

 division Foliosas is i)]aced first ; in the accompanying key I 

 have placed the Carnosae first, then the Frondosct, and lastly 

 the Foliosa. I don't know that it makes any great difference, 

 l)ut I bow to Engler's arrangement. It may possibly make 

 the study of the Hepaticae easier to beginners, and it may be 

 on more scientific lines. 



CARNOSAi). — Fronds fleshy, with obUque scales on the under 



side. 



(a) Fruit embedded in the substance of the frond. 



RicciA. — Figs. I and 2. 



(6) Fruit terminal on the under side of frond. 

 Targionia. — Involucre two-valved. Fig. 3. 



(c) Fruits many, on the under side of a stalked fyeltate receptacle. 



HvPENANTRON (Fimbriaria). — Perianth split into l^ands, 

 cohering at their apices ; opening downwards. Fig. 4. 



LuNULARiA. — Fruit stalked ; opening with four valves. Fig. 5. 



Rkboulia. — Perianth none ; involucres opening by two valves. 

 Fig. 6. 



Makchantia. — Perianth opening downwards. Mg. 7. 



Anthoceros. — Frond fleshy, without scales beneath. Fig. 8. 



