LOPIIOCOLEA. 247 



1. Lophocolea bidentata (A.), Diini. 



Jimgermania major repens foliis l>ifidis, Mich. Nov. pi. gen. p. 8, t. .'), f. 12 (1 7211). 

 Lichenastrum pinnulis acutioi'ibus, concavis, Injidis, majits, Dill. Hist. Muse. 



p. 487, t. 70, f. 11 (1741). 

 Jimyermania bidentata, Jjinn. Sp. pi. p. loOH (1 7r)3) ; Hook. Brit. Jung. t. 30 



(1810). 

 Lophocolea bidentata, Dum. Recueil, p. 17 (18;!;")). 

 Lophocolea Hooheriayia, Nees Nat. Eui-. Leb. 11, p. 33G (183(;). 



Dioicous, loosely and broadly csespitose, medium size, pale 

 green, sometimes almost white in colour. Stems procumbent, 

 flexuose, firm, ramose, branches ascending; radiculose, rootlets 

 small, whitish. Leaves sub-imbricate, approximate or distant, 

 broadly ovate, antical margin decurrent, plane or slightly undu- 

 late, patent-divergent or horizontal, bifarious, bifid to about 1-J, 

 segments lanceolate, subulate, acuminate, unequal, the lower 

 usually smaller than the upper, sinus rounded or acute. Aromatic. 

 Texture thin, epidermis smooth, cells largish, oblong-hexagonal or 

 4, 5-sided, walls thin — but with the chlorophyl granules adhering 

 to them they often appear thick — trigones minute. Stipules 

 free, large, sometimes reflexed, bifid or quadrifid, usually bifid to 

 below the middle, with a smaller ses^ment on the two outer margins, 

 segments subulate. Bracts erect, larger than the leaves, oval or 

 broadly oval, bifid, trifid or quadrifid to about J, margin here 

 and there dentate or ciliate, segments and sinus acute. Bracteole 

 oblong-oval, bifid, trifid, or rarely quadrifid to about ^-J,, segments 

 and sinus acute, margin slightly dentate or ciliate. Perianth 

 terminal, ovate-oblong, obtusely triangular, mouth widish, tri- 

 lobate, laciniate. Pistillidia numerous (60), often with a purplish 

 tinge. Calyptra thin. Capsule ovate, deep brown. Spores rich 

 fulvous brown, spherical, about twice as broad as the elaters- 

 Elaters bispiral, dark brown. Perigonial bracts 10-12, terminal 

 or at the middle of a branch, closely imbricate, erecto-patent, 

 roundish-ovate, bifid, trifid, or rarely quadrifid to about J-1, 

 segments acute, sinus rounded ; antheridia 1 or 2, oval ; perigonial 

 bracteole quadrifid. 



Fruits March, April. 



