BY L. RODWAY. 5^^ 



In this latter case the calyjitra, instead of being formed en- 

 tirely by the enlarged archegonium, may be a growth of 

 a sack-like character from the stem. When this is so the 

 barren archegonia are carried up on its apex. The sporo- 

 phyte consists of a typical capsule of dark colour, which 

 splits on maturity into four valves. It is borne on a long 

 or short pellucid stalk ; the base consists of a foot, which 

 bores into the stem of the parent plant. In some in- 

 stances the parent forms a descending fleshy sack, the mar- 

 supium, into the base of which the sporophyte is attached. 

 The spores are intermixed with very hygroscopic, spiral ela- 

 tors. Jungemianniales is divided into two sub-orders, or 

 families, the Metzgeriareae or Anacrogynae, in which the 

 sporophyte develops otherwise than at the apex of a shoot, 

 and the gametophyte is seldom leafy, and the Junger- 

 manniaceae or Acrogynae, where the sporophyte ter- 

 minates, a shoot or branch, and the gametophyte is usually 

 leafy. 



ANTHOCEROTA.LES. — This is an Order of plants that de- 

 parts in structure very materially from what may be con- 

 sidered the typical hepatic form, yet sufficiently close to 

 warrant it being included in the Class. The gametophyte 

 is a more or less flat, green thallus of simple structure. It 

 has more the simple tissue of the Anacrogynefie than of the 

 Marrlianfiaceae, l3ut differs in its cell construction. In- 

 stead of numerous discoid chloroplasts, otherwise universal 

 among Bryophytes, there is but one large flat or ringed 

 chromatophore in each, cells recalling the condition present 

 in many Algae. The reproductive organs are of the Biyo- 

 phyte type, but sunk in the tissue on the dorsal surface. 

 The sporophyte is peculiar. There is a well-developed foot 

 and a short sterile portion, representing a stalk. The 

 spore-bearing portion is very long, green, filiform, and con- 

 tinues to grow at the base long after the apex is mature. 

 The spore producing tissue is a cylinder between the epider- 

 mis and a central sterile column. The epidermis 

 usually possesses true stomata, and intermixed with the 

 spores are degenerate elators, usually small and function- 

 less. The sporophyte at maturity splits at the apex into 

 two valves, away from the erect columella. These valves 

 slowly curl away from the axis as the tissues below ma- 

 ture. 



MAROHANTIALES. 



This Order includes two families: — 



RicciACEAE. — The sporophyte has reached the limit of 

 reduction, and appears as a spore-bearing sphere sunk in 

 the tissue of the frond. 



