Anthoceros.] HEPATIC^. 69 



the summit of the capsule, which bursts through this surface The 

 capsule almost universally commences to wither at its very summit, 

 which turns brown, dry, and exhibits its reticulation very evi- 

 dently. This withering of the summit takes place sometimes, 

 just as it is emerging out of the conical elevation of the upper 

 surface of the frond, and at other times not until the capsule has 

 attained its full height of one inch or more ; it may most easily be 

 mistaken for a calyptra. The true calyptra, however, never emerges 

 out of the frond, but remains thick, carnose, of a globular form, and 

 slightly yellowish-brown, around the base of the peduncle, having 

 opened at the top to give exit to the capsule. In the youngest state 

 of the plant the edges of the lobes lie flat, they are subsequently ele- 

 vated, forming a cavity, from the bottom of which the fruit emerges. 

 There are spherical elevations of the superior surface of the frond, 

 beneath which two, sometimes three anthers lie ; these elevations 

 seem to burst irregularly. The anthers at first greenish, at maturity 

 assume a yellowish orange colour ; their shape is oblong, flattened 

 often on one side from the pressure apparently of the twin anther ; 

 they contain a milky fluid. They are shortly pedicellated, and are 

 found on plants distinct from the capsuliferous. The sheath of the 

 capsule, (for it can never properly be termed a calyx, whose origin in 

 this tribe of plants, is on the receptacle and around the base of the pe- 

 dicell of the capsule), or elevation around of the superior membrane of 

 the frond is about one-tenth of an inch in height. The capsule is one 

 or two inches in length, at first all grass green, resembling the seedling 

 shoots of onions as observed long ago by Buxbaum ; turning brown 

 previous to dehiscence, which takes place by the bursting of the two 

 opposite longitudinal grooves hitherto covered by a thin pale mem- 

 brane. The opening displays a central filiform columella, which is sur- 

 rounded by a cylindrical transparent greenish membrane, out of which 

 on all sides issue flat processes, variously angular, sometimes expanded 

 at the top, these passing along the interstices between the quaternions 

 of seeds embrace the quaternions ; when these last are ripe, the flat 

 processes detach themselves from them as well as from the membrane 

 around the columella. The ripe quaternions while yet held together 

 by the processes, form a cylinder around the columella. The quater- 

 nions in a very young state are pellucid, colourless spheres containing 

 near the centre (apparently in a fluid) two dark oblong and parallel 

 bodies attenuated at each end ; after sometime, each of the two divides 

 into two equal parts, at length the four approach, and in time form a 

 perfect quaternion, which, as it ripens, no longer displays its original 

 spherical covering. Thus it seems demonstrated, that what have been 

 hitherto termed seeds are properly the unions of several. This is true 

 of the other Hepaticcz allied to Anthoceros in having flat fronds. Thus 

 also, as in the Musci, the interior membrane of the capsule reflected on 

 the columella produces the seeds. The columella is continued down 

 to the junction of the capsule with the calyptra; the capsule, therefore, 

 cannot be said to be pedicellated. There are no true pores, as in the 

 MarchantiecR usually occur, on the surface of the frond. The sap or 

 juice is singularly viscid and gelatinous, and presents a difficulty in dis- 

 secting the living plant. The mode of budding of this species has 

 not hitherto been noticed. In the month of June I have observed 

 towards the base of the fronds, and at the edges, the upper and lower 

 membranes to separate and discharge a number of minute flat lobed 

 reticulated and greenish bodies like fronds in miniature ; with these, 



