HANDBOOK OF BRITISH HEPATIC/E. 28 1 



the middle of each lobe and segment, when ripe 

 they rupture the cuticle, and the minute spores 

 are copiously ejected. 



Riccia bifurca, Hoffm. 



Frond tumid, flabellate, dichotomously 

 divided, laciniae elliptic-obovate, or wedge- 

 shaped, emarginate, bilobate, lobes divergent, 

 punctate, margin thickened, elevated, rounded, 

 broadly sulcate, purplish beneath. Disc 

 nearly plane, glaucous green. 



Riccia bifurca, Hoffm. Fl. Germ. 95 ; Lin- 

 denb. Mon. 425, t. xx., f. 1 ; Carr. in Grev. 

 II., 88. 



On limestone rocks, &c, in patches 2 to 3 inches 

 in diameter. 



Segments of the fronds three to six lines long, 

 one line broad, contracted at each end, and spathu- 

 late, with a bold tumid border, most conspicuous 

 near the apex. Rootlets numerous. Sporangia 

 scattered irregularly over the disc. Spores three- 

 angled, dark brown, reticulately muricate. — {Plate 



4 fig- 79-) 



Riccia crystallina, Linn. 



Frond oblong, two-lobed, forked, the divi- 

 sions reversely heart- shaped, margin rather 

 crenate, of the same colour beneath. Surface 



