CONOCEPHALUS. 469 



Icite. Elaters short, thick, bispiral. Male flowers sessile Kear the 

 apex of the frond, disciform or oval. 



Conocephalus conicus (^Xccl:), Bum. 



Ilepalica vulgaris, Mich. Nov. pi. gen. p. o (1729). 



Marchantia conica, L. Sp. pi, ed. 1, p. 1138 (1753). 



Conocephalus conicus, Dum. Coram, p. 115 (1822). 



Feyatella conica, Corda in Opiz Beitr. 1, p. Gl'J (1829). 



llepatica conica, Lindb. Hep. utv. p. 5 (1877). 



Conocephalmn conicum (L,), Necker, Steph. 8p. Hep. p. 141 (]90<»). 



Dioicous, closely csespitose in thick patches, large, pale green 

 antically, often purple postically. Fronds aromatic, prostrate, 

 dichotomous, segments oblong, obtuse or emarginate ; midrib 

 distinct, about 20 cells thick near the middle. Epidermic cells 

 large, 6-sided, thin-walled. Furnished on the postical side with 

 numerous reniform or cordate scales of a purple colour and 

 delicate texture. Hadiculose, rootlets proceeding from the mid- 

 rib, long, white, intricately twisted. Spores dark brown to 

 black, muriculate. Elaters short, thick, brown, bi-trispiral. 

 Male receptacle arising from the midrib, antheridia about 20, 

 white-opaque. 



Fruits in Spring. 



Dimensions. — Fronds 1 to 3 inches long, segments ^ inch 

 broad, '5 mm. thick near the middle, "1 mm. near the margin; 

 cells of postical la3^er '05 mm. diara. ; stomata on antical side 

 •4 mm. X *3 mm. ; postical scales '4 mm. x "5 mm., pedicel 1 to 

 1 J inch long ; female receptacle G* mm. x 4'mm., 5* mm. x 4' mm. ; 

 capsule 1"5 mm. diam. ; spores "OG mm. diam. ; elaters 

 •5 mm. X "03 mm. ; male receptacle 3* mm. x 2* mm.; antheridia 

 1" mm. X '3 mm. 



Hab. — Damp shady banks or on wet rocks. Common. 



1-18. I. 



Europe, Asia, Japan, North America. 



Obs. — Ptecognised from other frondose hepaticic by its distinctly 

 reticulated epidermis, and the large whitish stomata which are 

 easily seen by the naked eye. 



