284 Evans: Hepaticae of Puerto Rico 



g\ North 



slope 



Heller (4646). Known only 



from Puerto Rico, where it was originally collected by Schzvaneehe 

 and listed as L, ceratantha Nees & Mont. 



The specimens quoted above have been compared with a por- 

 tion of the type material of C, Schzvaneekei, kindly communicated 

 by its author. The species is exceedingly variable, and it is not 

 unusual to find the whole range of variation exhibited by a single 

 plant The variation shows itself in the apices of the lobes, in the 

 degree of marginal dentation, in the lobules, in the degree of thick- 

 ening in the walls of the leaf-cells, In the presence or absence of 

 ocelli. It is in the underleaves, however, that it reaches its height 

 In some cases these are orbicular, scarcely wider than the stem 

 and cuneate at the base ; in other cases they are broadly reniform, 

 six times as wide as the stem and deeply cordate at the base. 

 Between these two extremes there are all possible gradations. 

 The bracts and bracteoles are also variable wath respect to shape 

 and degree of dentation, but they agree in being always connate 

 with one another, thus forming a second and deeply lobed sheath 

 around the true perianth. The horns of the latter organ do not 

 vary to any extent except in the direction which they assume. 



The utriculi are often found at the base of short and simple 

 branches, the remaining leaves of which have spherical lobules 

 and reduced lobes (figure 4). Lobules of this sort, however, are 

 by no means confined to such positions but frequently occur on 

 leaves with normal lobes, either on the main stem or on leading 

 branches. 



It is not difficult to distinguish C. Schwaneckci from any owt 

 of the preceding species. From C. spinosa it may be separated 

 by its less strongly toothed leaves and bracts, by the fact that it 

 often develops lobules of the normal type, by the variability in the 

 shape of its underleaves and by the tapering horns of its perianth. 

 From C. valida and C. brevinervis it may be distinguished by the 

 rounded thickenings of its leaf-cells, by the spherical lobules which 

 It so often develops and by its variable underleaves. 



Ceratolejeunea variabilis (Lindenb.) Schiffn, 

 Lejeunea variabilis Lindenb.; G, L, & N. Syn. Hep. 399 



1845. 



