BY R. A. BASTOW, F.L.S. 211 



this section belong the Blyttia, Metzgeria, and other genera. 

 The latter may be observed forming a perfectly flat network 

 around the bark of 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 down to its 

 examination with the microscope. The under side of the frond 

 is particularly interesting. 



The third section of the Order is called Carnos^ (PI. ii., 

 f. 6-8). 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 small reproductive bodies called gemmce, 

 Seen for the first time they are sure to remind the observer 

 of a miniature bird's nest with eggs in. 



The remaining section is Anthocerot^ (PI. ii,, f, 7) ; 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 procum- 

 bent, the do7'sal side of the stem being the upper side as it grows 

 (PI. iii., f. 4), and the under side the vent7'al (PL iii., f. 4). 



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 succuhous, vertical^ 

 or incubous, 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 succuhous (PI. iii., f. 1, 2). If the base of the 

 leaf crosses the stem transversely, it is vertical (PI. iii., f 3). If 

 the lowest part of base of the leaf is on the ventral side of the 

 stem, it is then incubous (PI. iii., f 4.) 



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

 comparatively small ; they are, however, of great use in 

 identifying the genus and species of the plant. 



The fruit, as in mosses, is generally terminal or lateral. If 

 terminal, the pedicel of the capsule will proceed from the apex 

 of the stem ; if lateral, the pedicel will proceed from the side 

 of the stem. In some of the genera the fruit is embedded in 

 the frond. Usually, the fruit of HepaticcB may be known by 

 the pellucid cellular fruitstalk, with four brown radiating arms 

 at the tip of the stalk ; it generally consists of an involucre, a 

 perianth, a calyptra, and a capsule. The involucre is a few 

 elongated and, sometimes, lobed leaves, and, in most cases, the 

 perianth may be observed within these. The perianth is an 



