HANDBOOK OF BRITISH HEPATIC^. 



181 



130. 



of unequal size. Stems I to 2 or 3 inches long, not 

 really branched but innovant, 

 filiform, greenish. Leaves vari- 

 able in closeness, sometimes 

 densely imbricate, at others 

 distant, distichous, alternate, 

 spreading, or erect, subquad- 

 rate, slightly decurrent at the 

 base, divided at the apex into 

 three, sometimes two, often 

 four, large triangular teeth (fig. 

 130), not always equal ; the 

 inferior one usually smallest, 

 frequently incurved, or con- 

 duplicate, the rest expanded, 

 entire, mostly acute at the apex, 

 sometimes acuminate, or spi- 

 nose. Besides these large teeth, a very minute 

 one at the base of the upper margin of the 

 leaf near its insertion. Usually pale or bluish 

 green. Stipules one to each pair of 

 leaves, variable in size. Widely lanceo- 

 late, divided three-fourths down into 

 two narrow acuminate segments, again 

 cut at the margin into teeth or 

 laciniae (fig. 131). Perigonial leaves 

 crowded, scarcely different from the 

 cauline ones, but more convex, with a 

 swollen or ventricose base. Perichaetial leaves 

 three or four, round the base of the calyx, rather 

 roundish, concave in the inside, quadrifid at the 

 apex, segments very sharp, with a small spiny 

 tooth on one side. Calyx nearly spherical, then 

 obovate, plicate above, mouth contracted, sharply 

 irregularly toothed. Capsule dark brown. Elaters 

 bispiral. 



