262 HEPATIC^. 



Leaves horizontal or patent-divergent, spreading or complanate, 

 the insertion of the upper part of leaf is in a line with the side of 

 the stem, whilst the hase is decurrent, and brought forward by a 

 gradual symmetrical curve, ovate orbiculate, emarginate to about 

 \—j, sinus small and shallow, lunate, segments acute or obtu- 

 sate, upper segment sometimes larger and overhanging the other 

 like a claw ; texture lax, cells medium size, 4-, 5- and 6-sided, 

 mostly hexagonal, often longer than broad, in the upper portion 

 of leaf subquadrate, basal cells oblong, walls thin, trigones small, 

 sometimes indistinct. Stipules large, prominent, ovate-lanceolate 

 or lanceolate-acute, varying much in shape, inserted obliquely so 

 as to turn from the leaf opposite to which they arise, entire or 

 unidentate, rarely dentate on both sides. Cladocarpous, perianth 

 proceeding from the postical side of stem, from axil of stipule, on 

 a very short branch which bears only a few small bracts and 

 bracteoles ; cylindrical, slightly sickle-shaped, smooth, composed 

 of several layers of cells at the base, near the mouth of a single 

 layer, triplicate, mouth contracted, finely crenulate. Bracts small, 

 oval or subquadrate, bifid or trifid. Bracteole oval or ovate- 

 lanceolate, entire or bifid. Calyptra oval, composed of several 

 layers near the base. Pistillidia few, cylindrical. Capsule oval, 

 brown. Spores smooth, brown, small. Elaters bispiral. Androecia 

 on small catkin-like branches proceeding from the postical side of 

 distinct stems, from tlie axil of stipule ; perigonial bracts 4 pairs, 

 small, complicate, ventricose, enclosing 1-3 oval, stipitate anthe- 

 ridia ; perigonial bracteoles bifid. 



Fruits May, June. 



Dimensions. — Stems |^ to 2 inches long, diam. 25 mm. to 

 •3 mm., with leaves r75 mm. to 25 mm. wide; leaves 2" mm. 

 X r4 mm., 2- mm. x 1" mm., I'S mm. x r5 mm., I'b mm. x r3 

 mm., 1-5 mm. X 1- mm., 1"2 mm. x r2 mm., l" mm. x 1- mm., 

 1- mm. X -8 mm., 9 mm. x 6 mm., 13 mm. x 1-2 mm., cells '0775 

 mm. X -025 mm., 075 mm. x '025 mm., -06 mm. x '03 mm., 05 

 mm. X -027 mm., 05 mm. x '03 mm., "04 mm. x '03 mm., '03 mm. 

 X '03 mm. ; stipules "65 mm. x '225 mm., '65 mm. x 2 mm., 

 •6mm.x-2 mm., 55 mm. x '225 mm., 5 mm. x '2 mm., '475 



