HANDBOOK OK I;R1TI.SH HEI'A'J IC^-. 59 



the lobules, arc often dccurrent on the stem, in the 

 shape of a laciniate and crispate wing ; the side 

 leaves (especially on the branches) often suboppo- 

 sitc ; the bracts of the male spikes exactly oppo- 

 site, and connate with the intervening underleaf, 

 the toothed or ciliated female bracts ; the much 

 shorter and usually less compressed perianth, at 

 first constricted at the laciniate mouth, and only 

 becoming two-lipped or campanulate by the extru- 

 sion of the fruit, the globose capsule, the valves 

 rarely separate down to the very base; the smaller, 

 shorter elaters, and the comparatively much larger 

 spores. — Spruce. 



Porella laevigata, Schr. 



Stem procumbent, bipinnately branched, 

 leaves broadly ovate, dentate, acute ; auricles 

 and stipules oblong-quadrate, spinulosely- 

 toothed. Perianth dentate. 



Jiiiigcruiaiiiiia Icvvigata, Schrad. Samm. No. 

 104; Hook. Br. Jung. No. 35. Madothcca 

 Icevigata, Dum. Comm., p. i 1 1 ; Gott. and 

 Rab. Exs. 53, 259, 2>7o'^ Cooke Hep. f. 141. 

 Porella Iccvigata, Carr. and Pears. Exs. No. 

 45; 274, 275. 



On the ground and on rocks. 



Growing in loose patches. Stems procumbent, 

 flexuose, 2 to 3 or 4 inches long, with numerous 

 scattered lateral branches. Leaves at the base and 

 extremity smallest, everywhere in two opposite 



