480 HEPATIC^. 



Targionia hypophylla, L. 



Targionia hypophylla, Linn. Sp. pi. p. 1604 (1753). 

 Targionia Michelii, Corda in Opiz Beiti\ 1, p. 649 (1829). 



Monoicous, growing in spreading patches, small, dark green 

 in colour, with niore or less conspicuous whitish pores, margin 

 and postical aspect chocolate-purple. Fronds imbricate, simple, 

 obovate or obcuneate, plane, involute when dry, costate, thick 

 along the middle, margin thinner, a cross-section showing the 

 antical outer layer to be greenish, inner whitish, postical brownish 

 purple ; clothed on the jDOstical side with numerous, densely 

 imbricate, broadly lanceolate, chocolate-purple scales ; cells 

 elongate, irregularly 4-, 5-, and 6-sided, with several, much 

 smaller, roundish, hyaline ones containing minute, nucleate 

 granules ; rootlets very numerous, hyaline. Perianth sessile, 

 protruding postically from the apex of the frond, composed of two 

 semi-roundish, slightly emarginate, dark purple bracts. Calyptra 

 thin, persistent. Style deciduous. Capsule shortly pedicellate, 

 when young pale brown, deep purple when ripe, oval-orbicular, 

 protruding slightly or not at all beyond the perianth, bursting 

 irregularly. Spores globose, dark brown, margin slightly paler, 

 coarsely tuberculate. Elaters 2-4-spiral, pale brown, much 

 narrower than the spores. Androecia lateral, disciform, papillose, 

 rising on a separate innovation from the antical costa. 



Dimensions. — Fronds 8mm. to 10mm. long, by 4 mm. to 5 mm, 

 broad, "75 mm. thick; scales '45 mm. x "15 mm. broad at the 

 base; cells of scales '08 mm. x '03 mm., "05 mm. x 'OS mm., 

 •05 mm. X "04 mm. ; small nucleate cells '02 mm. ; bracts 

 1*25 mm. X 1*5 mm. x 2" mm.; capsule 1"75 mm. x 1*4 mm.; 

 spores "05 mm. diam. ; elaters *225 mm. x "015 mm. 



Hab. — On exposed warm dry or moist rocky banks. Rare. 



1, 2. Hampshire. 5. Moist sunny red sandstone rocks at the 

 entrance to Habberley Valley, Kidderminster, Worcester, Dr. F. A. 

 Lees, March 1883; Dove Dale, Staffordshire, /. E. Bagnall 



