SECT. II. REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS. 231 



and discover a small protruding globule of a black 

 or brownish colour, and of about the size of a 

 millet seed, which is by and by disengaged en- 

 tirely from them, and elevated on a fine and thread- 

 shaped pedicle from a line to an inch or more in 

 length. This elevated globule is the ovary, which 

 when ripe separates into four longitudinal valves, 

 from the extremities of which a number of small 

 spiral and elastic threads issue, to which the seeds 

 are attached. In the genus Marchantia the pe- 

 dicle supports a target-shaped substance, to the 

 under surface of which the ovaries are attached. 

 In Anthoceros the ovary is a conical substance is- 

 suing from the upper part of the frond and sup- 

 porting a veil, which is the inner envelope. In 

 Blasia it is a sort of egg-shaped substance sitting 

 upon the under surface of the frond ; and in Riccia 

 it is a turban-shaped substance imbedded in the 

 body of the frond. The Hepaticae, like the Mosses, The spe- 

 are capable of being propagated by the sowing of their 

 seeds. But it has been observed by Hedwig and 

 others that the Hepaticae produce also gems as well S em8t 

 as seeds, by which the species is often propagated. 

 If a plant is carefully inspected there will occa- 

 sionally be observed a number of small cup-shaped 

 substances immersed in the frond, and toothed at 

 the border. The cups are filled with a number of 

 small granules which are the gems. 



