426 HEPATIC^. 



breadth being greater than the length, very pellucid, consisting of 

 only one layer of cells throughout the leaf, rather large in size, 

 the cells at the base being irregularly elongated and much larger 

 than those at the edge of the leaf. Perianth large for the size 

 of the plant, widely open at the crenulate mouth, situated either 

 singly or in pairs at the apex of the frond. Spores large, yellowish- 

 brown, closely covered with dark brown papillae ; papillee very 

 numerous, averaging about 110 on the face and edge of each 

 spore, finely pointed, projecting like spines from the edge of the 

 spore, so as to give it a spinulose appearance ; elaters narrow, of 

 medium length, with two spiral threads, rarely three ; spiral 

 threads loosely twisted. 



Dimensions. — Stems 4' mm. to 5* mm. long, '5 mm. wide, 

 with leaves, stem "35 mm. x '7 mm., '25 mm. x "7 mm., leaves 

 1'25 mm. x 1-35 mm., cells '05 mm., '04 mm. x '05 mmx., 

 bracts 1*5 mm. x 2*5 mm., calyptra 1" mm. x •85 mm., spores 

 •047 mm., '05 mm., elaters 'lb mm. x 0125 mm. 



Hab. — Bank on the side of the road between Parracombe and 

 Braunton, North Devon, IF. Mitten, Aug. 1875. 



Obs. — " Fossombronia Mittenii belongs to the group of Fossom- 

 bronicB characterised by the papillose markings on their spores ; 

 in this division F. ccesjjitiformis, De Not. and F. Hiisjioti, Corb., 

 are the only hitherto recorded European species. In F. caspiti- 

 formis and F. Husnoti the papillse are large, obtuse, comparatively 

 far apart, and number from 20 to 25 on the face and edge of each 

 spore." — Mrs. Ella M. Tindall. The description and some of the 

 figures are taken from Mrs. Tindall's paper contributed to the 

 " Journal of Botany," Feb. 1898. 



Descrii rioN OF Plate CLXXXVIII. — Fig. 1. Plants natural 

 size. 2. Plant x . 3, 4. Cross-sections of stem x 24. 5, 6. 

 Leaves x 24. 7. Portion of leaf x 290. 8. Bract x 24. 

 9. Calyptra x 24. 10, 11. Spores x. 12. Spore x 290. 

 13. Elater x. (Original, Herb. Tindall). 



