274 TASMANIAN HEPATIC^. 



36. SAECOMITEIUM, Corda (Aneura). 

 No perianth. 

 Calyptra lateral ; frond composed almost entirely of thickened nerve. 

 Frond piunatifid or 2-pinnate, sinuate, rather thick, with a 

 broad undefined nerve or 0. Inflorescence dioecious. Fruit 

 from the margin of the frond underneath. Involucre 

 short, cup-shaped, torn. Perianth 0. Calyptra sub- 

 cylindric, fleshy. Capsule ovoid or oblong, on a slender 

 fruitstalk ; elaters attached to the tips of the valves, each 

 with a single broad fibre. Antheridia immersed in mar- 

 ginal receptacles. 



In Hooker's Handbook to Fl. N.Z., this genus is 

 i\a.m.ed A ^let^ra, and the follovring note occurs: — In 

 the New Zealand Flora Mr. Mitten adopted the generic 

 name of Sarcomitriiim in preference to that of A7ieura, 

 because the fronds have a nerve or thickened axis, 

 and indeed consist of little else than axis. Names 

 are, however, as often founded on appearances as on 

 facts, and if the appearance is obvious, as in this case, 

 the name should be retained. A considerable genus, 

 more common in the Southern than in the Northern 

 hemisphere. 



Flor. Nov. Zeal, ii., 167 n. This genus contains all 

 the Aiieurce and part of the Metzgerice of the Syn. Hep. 

 where the fronds have been described as nerveless, 

 though consisting of very little beside nerve. In 6*. 

 pingiie and the wider lobed species there is but a single 

 row of cells on each side of the nerve to represent the 

 leafy tissue of the plants ; Aneitra being, therefore, 

 inapplicable, Sarcomiirium has been adopted as the 

 better generic name. 

 Margin remotely toothed. 



1. S. alternilobum. 

 Branches palmately divided. 



2. S. palmatum. 

 Branches pectinately divided. 



3. S. multifidum. 



Frond narrow at base, swollen, vaguely lobed, margins lobed. 



4. S. pinguis. 

 Frond erect, linear, pinnate. 



5. S. alcicorne. 



Frond rigid, brown or blackish green, pinnate. 



6. S. crassum. 



Frond simple or pinnatifid, branches dilated at the apex, 



7. S. pinnatifida. 

 Frond long, pinnatifid, pubescent. 



8. S. eriocaula. 



Frond short, fleshy ; lobes cochlea te, concave. 



9. S. cochleatum. 



