8 Evans: HeEpaticaE oF Puerto Rico 
Jeunea brevinervis, and in certain species of Cololejeunea, although 
the majority of the plants belonging to these same genera present 
a uniform cell-structure or show basal ocelli only. Fortunately the 
three species which Spruce referred to Neuro-Lejeunea present 
characters in common which would distinguish them as a natural 
and clearly defined group of plants, even if false nerves and ocelli 
- were left entirely out of consideration. 
In certain respects Veurolejeunea shows an approach to Cerato- 
lejeunea, several species of which have undivided underleaves. 
This fact was soan recognized by Stephani,* who added Lejeunea 
portoricensis Hampe & Gottsche to Neurolejeunea but at the same 
time transferred Z. Areutelii to Ceratolejeunea. Shortly after- 
wards,} upon studying the type specimen of CL. catenulata he per- 
ceived its close relationship to L. Breutelii and suggested that this 
species also ought perhaps to be transferred to Ceratolezeunea. 
Later,{ however, he replaced it in Neurolejeunea without question. 
When Schiffner § raised the group to generic rank he accepted the 
views of Stephani, retaining in the genus L. catenulata, L. seminer- 
vs and L. portoricensis but excluding L. Breutelii, Spruce,|} on 
the other hand, continued to regard L. Breuteliiasa Neurolejeunea, 
although he followed Stephani in including Z. portoricensis in the 
same group. In the opinion of the writer Z. portoricensis forms a 
connecting link between Neurolejeunea and Ceratolejeunea, with 
the [preponderance of its characters pointing toward the latter 
genus. In order to avoid Proposing a new genus for its accom- 
modation it is here transferred to Ceratolejeunea, In 
however, the three species are retained which 
placed there by Spruce. ; 
The genus Neurolejeunea is apparently confined to the American 
tropics. Its three species usually grow on the trunks of trees or 
on rotten logs, sometimes forming pure mats, sometimes mixed 
with other hepatics. They are all more or less tinged with olive- 
brown, and the pigmentation is often so pronounced that the color 
of the chloroplasts is completely masked. The s 
Neurolejeunea, 
were originally 
pecies seem to 
* Hedwigia 27: 288, 283. 1888. 
TZ. ¢. 29: 18. 1890. 
{ Bot. Gaz. 17: 171. : 
4 Engler & Prantl, Nat, Pflanzenfam. 13 
: 131. 1895. 
\| Jour. Linn. Soc. Bot. 30 : _ : 
334. 1894. 
FFB SEO I MED 
