FOSSOMBRONTA. 417 



Obs. — The genus Fossombronia is a very curious one, and 

 naturally comes at the end of the foliose genera ; it has characters 

 in common both with the foliose and frondose ; for instance, a 

 true stem with leaves, but the latter are usually composed at their 

 base of several layers of cells as with most of the frondose. 



An extremely interesting note on the genus is to be found in 

 the" Species Hepaticarum "of Herr Stephani, whose arrangement 

 of the species I have followed. 



Six British species have been observed up to now, which are 

 distinguished by their inflorescence, smell, shape of stem and 

 leaves, and more especially by the markings of their spores, full 

 particulars of which are given with each species. 



FOSSOMBEONIA. 



(A) Spores vvith lamellae resembling crests, furcate. 



a. LamelUe laxly disposed. 



Fossombronia pusilla (L.), Dum. 

 h. Crests crowded and numerous. 



Fossombronia cristata, Lindb. 



(B) .Spores vvith lamellfe regulai'ly reticulated. 



c. Margin appearing as if winged. 



Fossombronia angulosa (Dicks.), Raddi. 



d. Lamellae prominent at the margin. 



Fossombronia Dumortieri (H. et G.), Lindb. 



(C) Spore.s with lamellae compressed into papilla'. 



e. Papillae truncate. 



Fossombronia crfspitiformis, De Not. 



f. Papilla? long, hispid. 



Fossombronia Mittenii, Tindall. 



2d 



