THE MABCHANTIA FAMILY. 507 



beautiful thecse, which rise an inch above the frond, and resemble a 

 little parasol, or tiny green mushroom, in due course splitting into 

 rays. (Fig. 223.) The theca of the Marchantia conica resembles a 

 little cap, elevated on the summit of a very long transparent white 

 peduncle. The fructification of both species is rather uncommon. 

 The best specimens I have seen of the conica have been at Burley 

 Hurst and Cotterill ; and the best of the polymorpha, in the neighbour- 

 hood of Old Trafford. I have also had excellent ones from the Reddish 

 Valley, through the kindness and quicksightedness of Miss Christiana 

 Middleton. The theca of the Jungermannias bursts at the apex into 

 four valves, and resembles a little cross-shaped flower, exquisitely 

 beautiful in the microscope. Like that of the Marchantias it is elevated 

 on a peduncle, which cii-cumstance distinguishes both genera from the 

 Riccia, the spherical thecse of which do not emerge from the frond. 



Fig. 225. 



Fig. 224. Jungermannia Mdentata. 



Jungertnannia comjyressa. 



The Riccia is a delicate little plant, growing in circular tufts, and 

 common on the earth in flowerpots in green-houses. The native 

 species of this family are ninety-three, eighty-one of them being 

 Jungermannias. The best localities for the latter are Cotterill and 

 thereabouts, and the rocky glens in the hilly districts beyond Staly- 

 bridge and Rochdale, the total number found in our neighbourhood 

 amounting to forty. The nomenclature of the following list is after 

 Smith's " English Flora." 



HABITATS AND LOCALITIES. 

 * Riccia crystallina. 



E. B. xxxvi. 254C (as Riccia glauca). 



II Marchantia polymorpha. 



E. B. iii. no. 



