PEOCEEDINGS, JULY. XXXvH 



forms of leaves affording excellent characteristic points for the 

 determination of genera and species. Perhaps the Hepaticce grow in 

 greater profusion and variety, and attain greater size and beauty in the 

 densely ferned and matted dingles on the moist slopes of the mountains 

 of Tasmania than in any other part of the world. A little rough 

 scrambling through the tangled masses of vegetation, and a little 

 climbing over fallen forest giants, yet keeping near to the stream, and 

 we are certain soon to discover the old decaying logs completely covered 

 with Hepaticce, so much so as to effectually conceal the decaying wood 

 that supports them. Some of the cavities in the logs are matted with an 

 abundance of long, stringy, whitish plants ; these are soft and yielding 

 Lepidozia, and charming objects for the stage of the microscope, the 

 leaves being scarcely visible to the naked eye. Other logs will be found 

 covered with that giant amongst Hepaticce, Gottschea Lehmaniana ; it is 

 of light green colour, and is suspended in masses over the stream. The 

 large size of this plant, 6iu, or more, makes it a prominent object, yet 

 its leaves are so curiously laminated and folded that it is very difficult 

 to dissect for the purpose of absolute certainty in determination of 

 species. Some of the rocks are covered with a dark green moss-like 

 coating, rough-velvety both in appearance and touch, the genus 

 Lejeunia. Although the leaves are minute, each leaf is furnished with 

 a sac, the water in the sac swarming with moving bodies, probably 

 antherozoicls. Others are covered with a light brown and beautifully 

 pinnate plant, Polyotus Magellanicus, each leaf bearing a club-shaped 

 lobule, so curious an appendage that when ones observed it will not be 

 readily forgotten. All the foregoing belong to that section of Hepaticce 

 known as Foliosce. They are plants with distinct stems, bearing distinct 

 leaves. But there are other Hepaticce that bear no distinct stems or 

 leaves, these organs being fused into one flat leaf-like frond, hence the 

 name of the section Frondosai. To this section belong the Blyttia, 

 Metzgeria, and other genera. The latter may be observed forming a 

 perfectly flat net-work around the bark of the living trees. It is 

 almost impossible to secure a perfect specimen without taking the bark 

 as well, but the collector will be amply repaid when he settles dowa to 

 its examination with the microscope. The under side of the frond is 

 particularly interesting. The third section of the order is called 

 Cccrnosce. In this the fronds are broad and fleshy, of a vivid green 

 colour, having oblique scales on their under sides. They cover moist 

 rocks or stumps, and sometimes grow on earth. By the aid of a pocket 

 lens small receptacles will be observed on the upper surfaces, surrounded 

 by a beautiful pellucid fringe, the receptacles contain gemmce. Seen for 

 the first time they are sure to remind the observer of a miniature 

 bird's nest with eggs inside. The remaining section is Anthocerotce. 

 These also have fleshy fronds, but differ from the preceding section in 

 being without scales on the under sides, and in the manner of fruiting. 

 The plants of this Natural Order are nearly always procumbent, the 

 dorsal side of the stem being the upper side as it grows, and the under 

 side the ventral. For the purposes of identification botanists have 

 divided the Foliaceous Hepaticce according to the manner in which the 

 leaves are set on the stem ; they are either sitccuhous, vertical, or 

 incuboiis, and it is not easy for beginners in the study to determine in 

 which manner the leaves are actually set ; it is, therefore, important to 

 make the differences very clear. If the lowest part of the base of the 

 leaf is on the dorsal side of the stem, the leaf is succubous. If the base 

 of the leaf crosses the stem transversely, it is verticcd. If the lowest 

 part of the base of the leaf is on the ventral side of the stem, it is then 

 incuious. The stipules are the third rank of leaves, and are generally 

 comparatively small ,: they are, however, ot great use in identifying the 

 genus and species of the plant. The fruit, as in mosses, is generally 



