6SS cryptogaMia MUSCr. 



bounded with eight longitudinal oblique fcries of 

 laaceolare, fmcoth, rigid^ imbricatwi leaves. 

 Near the fummiLs of the branchesj in the al>£ 

 of the leaves, are placed fingle kidney-fliap'd 

 capfules, confifting of two valves^ which open 

 horizontally like the Ihelis of an oyfter, and cafe 

 out a fine yellow powder. Thcfe capfules Li;;- 

 n.cus fuppofes to be Anther.t< or male parrs of 

 frudification. 



In the £iy alfo of many of the leaves, near the 

 tops of the branches, are often found what the 

 fame gre?t author CdXh female fl^^wers^ but which 

 the ingenious Haller efteems to be only gems or 

 buds of a future plant. They confill", firfi-, of 

 four fiiff, lanceolate, incurv'd, minute leaves, 

 one of the outermofl longer and larger than the 

 tcft. Thefe arc fuppofed to correfpond to the 

 calyy: in regular flowers. Again, at the bottom 

 of this (alyx are five fmall pellucid fubftances, 

 reiembling leaves, vifible onh by a microfcope, 

 which are fuppoled analogous to piftils. Thefe, 

 in time^ grow up into three large broad leaves, 

 two of the five united together like the hoof of 

 an oxj with a third narrower one annexed at the ■ 

 bafe, and two other minute ones oppofite to the 

 other three. Thefe five leaves are joined at the 

 bale, and in Autumn, falling from the calyx^ 

 vegcrate, and produce a new plant. See a 

 diliertation de Jemrn-ihus vmfcorurd. Amanit Aia- 

 dem. 2. p. '^Gi, 



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