Vol. 43 — 
BULLETIN 
OF THE 
TORREY BOTANICAL CLUB 
er 
MARCH, 1916 
The morphology of Thallocarpus Curtisii 
F. MCALLISTER 
(WITH PLATE 4) 
The first published description of Thallocarpus Curtisit (Aust.) 
Lindb. seems to have been by Austin in 1869 (1). The simple 
structure of its sporogonium, which is without foot or elaters, 
naturally pointed toward a relationship to Riccia. In the dried 
material from which his descriptions were made the thallus ap- 
peared very like that of Sphaerocarpos. This, together with the 
fact of the spores adhering in fours, led him to believe that it 
must also be related to Sphaerocarpos. He believed it to be a 
genus intermediate between Riccia and Sphaerocarpos and gave it 
the name Cryptocarpus, the only species being C. Curtisii. The 
following is his description of genus and species: 
“CRYPTOCARPUS (gen. nov.) Aust. MSS., 1864. 
‘Frons laxe spongioso-reticulata, irregulariter subpalmatim lobata, tenuis, 
epidermide hand distincta. Costa nulla. adices intus non papillosi (ut in Sphae- 
rocarpo), longissimi, intertexti. Fructus in frondis substantia immersus (ut in 
Riccja). Sporangia depresso-globosa, singulatim nata, non libera. Calyptra stylo 
nigro persistente coronata. Sporae 4-jugae (ut in Sphaerocarpo), vix solutae, In 
aspectu singulae et profunde quadrilobae.” 
“ CrypTocaRPus Curtis Aust. MSS. 1864. 
“ Riccia Curtisii, James, in Herb. (fide Curtis). 
‘“Fronde caespitosa valde. imbricata fibroso-pap 
nargine crenatis; sporangiis maximis in statu siccati 
ulata, laciniis inciso-lobulatis 
latentibus sed frondes hume- 
[The Butzetin for January (43: 63-116. pl. 1-3) was issued March 11, 1916.] 
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