214 HEPATIC^. [Riccia. 



says, " Capsula in inferiori frondis pagina plurimum liaud 

 procul ab ejus apice, sessilis, globosa, evalvis, gallis minoribus 

 fbliorum Glechomce hederacece similis, continens semina 20 30 

 alba et fusca," while Mr. Alex. Braun of Carlsruhe, in his 

 Observations on some Hepaticte in the Bolanische Zeitung for 

 1821, has found similar bodies upon the Riccia canaliculata of 

 Hoffmann, which is most assuredly but a variety of R. fluitans, 

 and has hence been led to refer these plants to his new genus 

 Ricciella, for which he has the following character : " Capsula 

 in inferiori frondis pagina, viridi-luteola, pellucida, globosa, per 

 lentem rugulosa, semper inaperta. Sporce gelatinosse, albse, 

 tuna albse fuscis mixtse." Such a character, however, we must 

 confess, is too vague to satisfy us as to the propriety of its 

 constituting a distinct genus. 



3. R. natans ; frond obovate or inversely cordate, once or twice 



lobed, clothed beneath and at the margin with numerous 



long pendent denticulated flat fimbrise. 



Riccia natans. Linn. Syst. Nat. et 12. v. 2. p. 708. Engl. Bot. t. 



252. Weber, Prodr. Hepat. p. 117. 



Riccia capillata, Schmid. Ic. t. 74 Dill. Muse. t. 78. / 18. 

 HAB. Stagnant pools, rare, England. 



Fronds always found floating, about half an inch in length, 

 between fleshy and membranaceous, pale green above, with a 

 slight depression or groove in the centre, the cells large, each 

 apparently subdivided into smaller cellules, the margin and 

 whole under side are clothed with numerous pendent, linear, 

 membranaceous, mostly dark purple, strongly veined fimbrise. 

 We have never been able to detect any fructification on 

 British specimens, but we have had the satisfaction of receiving 

 American specimens with capsules from Professor Torrey of 

 the Military Academy, West Point, New York. They ap- 

 pear to be exactly similar to those of R. crystallina. 



4. R. spuria ; fronds membranaceous lobed pellucid, fructification 



beneath the sinuses of the lobes solitary exserted turbinate 

 toothed. 



Riccia spuria. Dicks. PL Crypt. Fasc. 4. p. 20. t. 11. / 16. 

 Hook. Fl Scot. P. II. p. 110. 



HAB. Turfy marshes among the Scottish mountains. Mr- 

 Dichson. 



