CONSmCTUS HE J' A TIC A R UM. 1 9 



Stipules generally absent or small, rarely of a moderate size ; 

 in some species with opposite leaves (e.g. Lophocolea, Chiloscypha, 

 and Lpiosci/pha) connate at each side with the adjacent leaf, and 

 there forming a three-leaved whorl ; in the opposite leaved 

 Phif/lochil(p, however, they are wanting. Inflorescence dioicous 

 or monoicous, acrogenous, very rarely hypogenous. M;de bracts 

 1-10-androus. Female bracts 1-5 -jugate, generally more incised 

 than the leaves, free, or in a few species adnata to the perianth 

 for a longer or shorter distance, or finally performing tlie functions 

 of an imperfectly monophyllous perianth or where the same is 

 evidently deficient. In genera which have a pouch instead of 

 a periantli the inner bracts are very often minute and surround 

 the mouth of the pouch. Perianth perfect and normally com- 

 pressed at the side ; in some it is complanate (at least in the 

 upper part) and two-edged with a very broad truncate or bilabiate 

 apex, the sutures (both antical and postical) being frequently 

 winged ; but in those species which have rather large stipules 

 it is often trigonous with the third angle in front ; again, in some 

 it is more inflated trigonous, seldom terete, small-mouthed. 

 Capsule very often more or less oblong, of many series of cells. 

 Elaters dispiral, very rarely monospiral. 



Subtribe VII. FOSSOMBRONIE^. 



Plants foliose or very often frondose, prostrate as a rule, 

 radiculose, but in Scalia fixed to the matrix by a branched 

 rhizoniatous base, absolutely rootless ; sub-dichotomous, the 

 frondose species being very rarely postically sub-ramose. Stem 

 generally sub-plane-convex, quite distinct from the lamina of the 

 frond ; or very broad and merging into the lamina on each side. 

 Leaves (when any) succubous, rather broad, often slightly fleshy, 

 turning flaccid in drying. Stipules absent, except in Scalia. 

 Fronds linear or obovate. quite entire or serrulate, sometimes 

 pinnatifid, in Petnlop/it/l/inn lamcllose on the upper side. Male 

 flowers submarginal along the whole length of the stem ; autheri- 

 dia binate to quinate, scarcely covered with the leaves ; in some 



