Notothylas] hepatics (Stephani). 321 



A very curious plant, the largest of the genus, extremely thin and 

 very much branched, quite unlike any other species of Nototliylas ; the 

 involucre of the capsule is decumbent, being inserted on one side, but 

 for a very short distance only ; very curious also is the innovation of 

 the frond from the base of the fruit, quite a new feature in this class 

 of plants, of which the terminal cells are used up for the formation of 

 the pistillidia. The elaters are formed inside a mother-cell (just like 

 the spores, 4 together) and are real tetrahedrons ; but they lose their 

 form and become inflated by the action of the spiral bands, as soon as. 

 they are set free. 



Nototliylas has always numerous pistilla within one flower ; the 

 occurrence of 2 capsules springing from the same point is therefore not 

 surprising, though it has never before been observed. 



