50 HANDBOOK OF BRITISH HEPATIC/E. 



Cylindrical, dehiscing to the base in four 

 valves. Elaters almost always with two 

 spirals, rarely with one spiral, or three to 

 four, deciduous. — Spruce Hep. Atnaz., p. vi. 



Distinct by the polygynous female flowers, pedicel 

 not at all or scarcely dilated at the apex, never 

 into a solid apophysis as \x\ Jnbulcce. Capsule pro- 

 ducing spores and elaters on its entire inner surface, 

 four-valved to the base. Elaters bispiral— rarely 

 monospiral, deciduous. 



Section A. — Elaters normally bispiral. 

 Sub- Tribe I. RA D ULE^. 



Branches all lateral, infra-axillary ; leaves 

 incubous, leaflets none ; perianth from the 

 front almost always compressed, mouth broad, 

 truncate.— S/>r. 



Genus 4. RADULA, Duinort. 



Involucre indistinct, conforming to the 

 leaves ; perichaetial leaves bilobed, condupli- 

 cate ; perianth flattened at the back, mouth 

 truncate, entire, not laterally split ; capsule 

 four-valved, semi-pellucid, cellular, funnel- 



