Mr. Hooker's Observations on Anclrcea. 387 



what transversely and irregularly torn below the summit, in such a 

 manner that a portion of it very frequently, if not always, adheres 

 to the operculum, and remains there till the capsule begins to 

 decay. In a young state it is tipped with a long hollow style, 

 whicli soon falls of^', and only a short mucro is seen to remain in 

 a more advanced state. The internal jjart of the capsule is en- 

 tirely filled with minute, brown, splicrical seeds, except what is 

 occupied by the columella, which is at first succulent and vascu- 

 lose, but soon becomes dry and shrivelled. 



ClIAEACTER EsSBXTIALIS. 



Capsula quadrivalvis, valvarum apicibus operculo adnato. 

 ; , Character Naturalis. 



Fruct.fam. terminalis statu juniore foliis pericheetialibus omninci 



obtecta. 

 Pistilla numerosa, minuta, oblonga, viridia, quorum unum solum 



maturescit, reliqua pedicelli ad basin restant. 

 Pedieellus vix lineam vel sesquilineam longitudine superans, foliis 



perichfetialibus pauli^im longior, albus, succulentus, vasculosus, 



cylindraceus, ad basin in bulbilli formam intumescens. -)-■.;; 

 Apophysis obloi)ga vel turbinata, fusca, substantia pulposd 'im'-^ 



pleta. 

 Capsula ovata, intens^ fusca, cylindracea, demum subquadran- 



gularis, in quatuor valvas aequales longitudinahter dehiscens, 



apicibus semper operculo connexis. 

 Columella capsulfe fere longitudhie, oblonga, cylindracea, pallid^ 



fusca, apice subacuminata. 

 Semina numerosa, minuta, fusca, adamussim sphaerica. 

 Operculum minutum, conicum, capsuUe concolor in A. alpind et 



nivali. 



