JlJZZ.iXM. 127 



sometimes (principally when dry) secund, always oblique, some- 

 times llilcate, about twice as long as broad, at the base semicor- 

 dato-ovate, gradually becoming narrower, the upper half subligu- 

 late, apex plane, almost always truncato-tridentate, rarely 4-dentate 

 or subentire — in a few species equally bidentate, or unequally 

 bilobed ; margin in most species entire, in a few species postical 

 base spinose or dentate. Cells near the base elongate, others 

 small, subquadrate, guttulate, usually smooth, walls and angles 

 distinctly thickened. Stipules everywhere present, about half the 

 size of the leaves, rarely 3-4 times shorter, broader than the stem, 

 appressed, very often subrotundo-quadrate, rarely longer, apex 

 truncate, very often 4-crenate or incised, rarely subentire, margin 

 entire or subdentate ; in a few species cordate at the base, auricles 

 sometimes spinose. Flagella unequally leaved ; leaves minute, 

 tristichous, ovate, concave, apex bidentulate, rarely only apiculate 

 or tridenticulate, producing from near the base long pale radicles. 

 Inflorescence dioicous, both sexes cladogenous, constantly on 

 postical branches. Bracts $ 3- 5-pairs, innermost largest (but 

 often shorter than the leaves), closely imbricate, concave, orbicu- 

 late or ovate, rarely ovato-lanceolate, apex lobulate, laciniate or 

 ciliate, subscariose ; cells rather large, elongate, 4- G-angled. 

 Pistillidia 10-lG. Perianth ovato-subulate or fusiform. 3 to 4 

 times longer than broad, subcarnose at the base, leptodermous, at 

 first tricarinate at the base, keels broad, quasi G-plicate, on the 

 maturing of the fruit the keels almost obliterated, sometimes sub- 

 terete, with only the apex trigonous constricted, mouth in perfect 

 state with 12-15 long cilia. Ualyptra about half the size of the 

 perianth, pyriform or cylindrical-oblong, at the base 3-strata, 

 surrounded by the sterile pistillidia, above 2-strata. Capsule 

 about half the size of the calyptra, oblong, subcylindrical, about 

 5-strata, dividing to the base into 4 valves. Elaters slender, sub- 

 obtuse, about half the breadth of the minute spores. Amentula S 

 antical, proceeding from the axil of the stipule, short, incurved : 

 bracts 5, rarely up to 10-pairs, ovate, concave or subcomplicato- 

 convolute, apex truncate, bifid, or bispinose, rarely entire ; 

 antheridia two longistipitate, rarely solitary. 



