36 BRITISH HEPATIC^. 



part of the stem, where they are more concave, erecto-patent, and 

 often crowded into a rosulate tuft. Margin entire, rarely retuse, a 

 little inflexed so as to appear thictened, subundulate-repand. When 

 dry the margin is more distinctly repand, and from the greater trans- 

 luceney of the exterior row of cells, appears cartilaginous. 



Texture thick and parchment-like, except in immersed speci- 

 mens, in which it is thinner and more translucent. Colour pale 

 glaucous-green, sometimes deeper green, or tinged in y colorata, 

 N. ab E., of a delicate reddish-brown. Not aromatic. 



The leaves are described by Mr. C. I/yell " as extremely thin, 

 membranous, shining, sub-diaphanous " ; but they appear to me 

 neither so thin, nor translucent, as in many species, e. g. J. cordi- 

 folia, and Kantia frichomanis. Still, the large hyaline cells reflect 

 the light in a similar manner to Cephalozia connivens, and impart a 

 characteristic frosted, diaphanous appearance. 



Leaf-cells (f. 36, 8) well defined, with thin distinct walls. Mar- 

 ginal cells sub-quadrate, with thicker walls, regularly disposed, 

 resembling the rest in size, about y^ro" » those of the upper third 

 hexagonal, xtto" to -yt^' ; basal cells oval or oblong, -g^" long by 

 1 - 7^5 Q broad. The trigones are more distinctly seen after boiling 

 in liq. potassse, and staining with zinc biniodide ; a hyaline line then 

 divides one cell from another, a punctiform thickening appearing 

 within the angles only. The violet-coloured central portion consists 

 of the contracted ceU-contents. 



The delicate epidermic layer investing the cells is covered with 

 minute papillae. 



Inflorescence autoicous, or dioicous. Fructification terminal, or 

 from the growth of innovations apparently lateral. 



Involucral leaves (f. 86, 4, 5) larger than the rest, broader than 

 long, -^' by xo"> more distinctly waved, sometimes emarginate, 

 recurved at the apex, coarctate, closely investing, and in a young 

 state hiding the colesule, with the lower fourth of which the supe- 

 rior leaf is connate. Lower leaf free. 



Amphigastria (one or two) adnate with the bases of the invo- 

 lucral leaves, ovate-subulate. They are absent elsewhere. 



Colesule (f. 36, 4) not much exceeding the involucral bracts, at 

 first ovate, but when mature obovate, boldly 5-6-plicate (f. 36, 6, 7), 

 the angles obscurely tuberculose, mouth contracted, rostellate, at 

 length splitting into 4-5 acute hyaline segments. 



Calyptra obovate, translucent, surrounded above the base by 

 15-20 abortive pistillidia. 



Capsule (f. 36, 2) globose (a little longer than broad), dark 

 brown, shining, composed, according to Dr. Gottsche, of two layers 

 only, the outer consisting of larger hyaline cells, crossed by irre- 

 gular brown parietal bands, the inner layer consisting of yellowish- 

 brown cells, strengthened by annular brown fibres. 



Spores round, yellowish-brown, smooth, xito" to ttVo"" 



