430 HEP AT 10 j^. 



Petalophyllum Ralfsii (JFik.), Goff. 



Jungermania hibernica, var. "Wils. Eng. Bot. t. 2750, f. ] ">, 1(5 (1832), 



Jungermania Ralfsii, Wils. Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2874 (1843). 



BiplolcEna Lyellii, var. lamellata, Nees, Nat. Eur. Leberm. Ill, pp. 345, 852 



(1838). 

 Petalophyllum Ralfsii (Wils.), Gott. in Lehm. Pug. pi. nov. et min. cogn. viii. 



p. 29 (1844), G. L. N. Syn. Hep. p. 472 (1846). 

 Vodonia Ralfsii, Dum. Hep. Eur. p. 16 (1874). 



Petalophyllum lamellatmn, Lindb. in Meddel. Soc. F. Fl. Fenn. 1, p. 91 (1874). 

 Fossomhronia corbukfformis, Trabut, Atlas Fl. Alg. p. 7 (1886). 



Dioicous, csespitose, closely attached to the ground, small, 

 light green in colour. Fronds procumbent, furcate, broadly 

 obovate or reniform, flattish, beset on the antical side with 

 lamellar processes disposed in radii towards the extremity of the 

 frond, which is somewhat emarginate ; texture rather flaccid, 

 cells largish to large, walls thin, with numerous chlorophyl 

 granules attached to their sides, making them to appear some- 

 what thick, midrib prominent, postically thick, often lengthened 

 out at the base of the frond and denuded so as to resemble a 

 stipe, covered beneath with numerous rootlets. Perianth antical, 

 proceeding from the middle of the frond, tubular, wide at the 

 mouth, which is dentate. Calyptra smaller. Pedicel thick and 

 somewhat persistent. Capsule oblong-spherical, slightly apophy- 

 sate, coriaceous, splitting to the base into two valves which are 

 usually bidentate. Spores brown, reticulate, walls raised, giving 

 them a bordered appearance not unlike F. aiigdosa, margin hyaline, 

 areola? 5, 6 across, 20 to 25 cells round. Elaters brown, narrow, 

 bi-tri-spiral. Male fronds broader, antheridia numerous, oval, 

 enclosed in the laminse, more frequently near the midrib or enclosed 

 in scale-like processes on the mid-rib. 



Dimensions. — Fronds about \ inch long x \ inch broad, 

 stems 2* mm. broad x 1* mm. thick; cells of frond '06 mm.; 

 perianth 4*5 mm. x 2*25 mm. ; capsule 2' mm. x 1"5 mm.; spores 

 •07 mm. ; antheridia '275 mm. x -175 mm. 



Hab. — Damp sandy flats on the coast. Very rare. 



1. Near Penzance, /. Balfs. Formerly on the roadside 



