HANDBOOK OF BRITISH HF.PATIC/E. 65 



succubous, leaflets (always present) nearly of 

 equal size, conforming, bi- or multi-fid. 



There can be no doubt of the close relationship of 

 the plants combined in this group, their most obvious 

 character being the equably tristichous cloven 

 leaves, whereof the postical are nearly, or quite as 

 large as the lateral, and are never absent in any 

 species. The polyphyllous female involucres 

 always borne either on the apex of the stem or 

 of a side branch— never on a postical branch, 

 although such branches exist in, at least, two 

 genera — afford another good and very constant 

 character. — Spruce. 



Genus 6. PTILIDIUM, Nees. 



Involucre two to three leaved, leaves 

 appressed, two or three lobed, divided, elon- 

 gated ciliate; perianth twice as long as the 

 perichaetium, clavate, inflated, rather plicate at 

 the apex ; mouth contracted, toothed ; capsule 

 four-valved, coriaceous, naked; elaters gemin- 

 ate, naked, deciduous. Ptilidium, Nees Eur. 

 Leb. (1833) I., p. 95. Blepharosia, Dumort. 

 Syll. p. 46. 



Stipulate, leaves incurrent, two-lobed, condupli- 

 cate. 



Ptilidium eiliare, Linn., Bum. 

 Stem procumbent, pinnate, branches alter- 



F 



