ANALYSIS OF THE GENERA 79 
oval particles, which are emitted upon water being applied to them, 
thece or capsules urn-like cases, seated upon a sete or stalk, covered 
in an early stage by a membranous calyptra, (which generally bursts 
regularly and transversely at the base, and rises up with most of the 
pedunculated and operculated capsules), closed by a lid or operculum, 
and the mouth is naked or furnished with a single or double row of 
cellular rigid processes or teeth, called the peristome, which are always 
some multiple of four, free, or variously combined, the centre of the 
thece usually has an axis or columella surrounded by numberless 
sporules. Sporules in germination producing confervoid filaments, 
which afterwards ramify, and form an axis of growth at the point of 
the ramifications.—Planis of small size, erect or creeping, terrestrial 
or aquatic, of a more or less compactly cellular structure, having a 
distinct axis of growth. Leaves minute, imbricated, entire or serrated, 
or toothed, very rarely divided, reviving after being dried by the appli- 
cation of moisture. 
ORDER CVIII. HEPATICE A\.—Juss. 
Fructification mostly of two kinds; 1st, oblong, or mostly rounded 
and frequently shortly pedunculated reticulated bodies, containing 
a very minutely granulated substance, which escapes by an aperture, 
formed at the extremity; 2ndly, Capsules or thece, which in an early 
state are covered over with a calyptra, which is tipped with an apparent 
style, often surrounded by a perianth or calyx, at length bursting the 
calyptra irregularly, and rising on a peduncle, and opening at the 
extremity with two or four, or many valves, destitute of operculum, 
bearing within numerous seeds, mostly mixed with spiral filaments.— 
Minute plants frondose or foliose, mostly of a loose cellular structure, 
and generally reviving after being dried by the application of moisture. 
ORDER CIX. CHARACEA).—Ricu. 
Fructification of two kinds; Ist, axillary, solitary, sessile, oval 
bodies, formed of a few short tubes, spirally twisted around a centre, 
inyested with a pellucid membrane, crowned with fine lobes, con- 
taining a fine powder, which has the power of germinating; 2ndly, 
Globules of a reddish or orange colour, succulent, and containing 
minute filaments, surrounded by a pellucid covering, at length opening 
with several valves.—Agquatic plants, consisting of stems, formed of 
parallel tubes, which are either transparent or encrusted with carbonate 
of lime, and of regular whorls of tubes, which may be considered 
either as leaves or branches. ‘The pellucid stems of these plants are 
highly interesting, as allowing the circulation of the sap in two 
currents to be seen passing spirally along them, 
