268 



HANDBOOK OF BRITISH HEPATITE. 



1 86. 



In moist and wet situations. (Fr. July.) 



Fronds much imbricated, procumbent, only erect 

 when growing in water, variable in size, rarely simple, 

 usually once or twice dichotomous, i to 4 or 5 

 inches long ; laciniai mostly short, 

 prominent dark midrib beneath, whence 

 spring numerous silky radicles. Colour 

 uniform dull green, between fleshy 

 and membranaceous. Dioicous. Male 

 receptacle greenish, pedunculate, 

 springing from the base of a sinus, at 

 the end of a frond (fig. 186). Recep- 

 tacle, flat on the top, horizontal, papil- 

 lose, fleshy, thin at the margin, cut into 

 about eight short rounded lobes. 

 Anthers equal in number to the papil- 

 lae on the surface, and imbedded in it, 

 opening by an orifice through the 

 papillae. On the underside numerous imbricated 

 scales, radiating so as to correspond with the mar- 

 q:inal lobe. Female receptacle pedunculate, hemi- 

 pherical, deeply divided to the 

 base into eight to ten linear de- 

 curved rays, covering as many 

 involucres (fig. 187), which are 

 united at the base, and mixed 

 with minute chaffy scales. In- 

 volucres oblong, open at the end 

 and torn, enclosing an ovate 

 quadrifid perianth. Calyptra 

 obovate. Capsule ovate, pale 

 greenish brown, protruded a 

 little beyond the calyx, opening 

 into about eight short segments. 

 Elaters bispiral. Gemmae pro- 



