214 TASMANIAN HEPATIC^. 



DETERMINATION OF GENUS. 



In order to determine the genus to which one of the 

 HepaticcB belongs, the accompanying Key to Genera will be 

 found useful. 



1st. Determine if the plant possesses distinct leaves ; if it does, 

 its genus must be looked for in the section FoLiosiE, 

 headed A. 



If the plant has not leaves, but is simply a long or short 

 thin frond, it belongs to section Frondos^, under B. 



If the frond is fleshy, with scales on its under side, it 

 will be amongst the Carnosje, under C. 



If the frond is fleshy, but without scales beneath, it 

 then comes under the section ANTHocEROTiE at D. 



2nd. Assuming that the plant to be identified is foIiaceouSf the 

 manner in which the base of the leaf is set on the stem 

 must be accurately determined. It may be succubous, 

 or vertical, or incubous ; but it will come under one of 

 these three headings. If succubous, its genus will be 

 found in the first fifteen genera ; if vertical, its place 

 will be in one of the genera from sixteen to nineteen 

 inclusive ; if incubous, its genus must be looked for in 

 the genera numbered twenty to twenty-nine inclusive. 



3rd. Note the perianth ; it may be leafy, or it may be a fleshy 

 bag, or the plant may not have a perianth. 



Assuming that the leaves are succubous, and that the 

 perianth is iey/y, the plant will belong to one of the 

 first ten genera. 



4th. Ascertain whether the fruit is terminal or lateral. 



Assuming that the fruit is lateral, the plant will belong 

 to one of the genera numbered eight, nine, or ten. Read- 

 ing the short descriptions of these three genera in the 

 key, we find that one genus is without stipules, another 

 possesses stipules, and the remaining one has its leaves 

 deeply cleft. These are suflBcient differences for deter- 

 mination of genus. 



