BRITISH HEPATIC^. 57 



cending or erect, flexuose, simple or dichotomously branched, in 

 older plants innovant from below tbe apex, which is generally- 

 recurved ; from 1" to 4", or even 6" in length, the breadth varying 

 from a line to i^ths of an inch. In the large form sub-complanate, 

 and with thinner, less convex leaves, closely imbricated near the 

 summit ; whilst in 3 minor the leaves are sub-vertically patent, and 

 from the recurvation of their margins appear narrower and distinct 

 ■ from each other. 



Leaves (f. 12, 3) ■^^" to \" in length, by -h" to ^" broad, bi- 

 fariously imbricated, alternate, horizontally or semi-vertically patent, 

 roundish, obovate, deltoid-ovate, or trapezoid, with a broad obtuse, 

 rounded, or truncate apex, obliquely adnate to the stem, dorsal 

 margin decurrent, entire, strongly reflexed, ventral rounded, de- 

 curved, sub-undulate, and like the summit dentate, ciliate-dentate, 

 or rarely entire. With the exception of a saccate spot at the base, 

 the superior aspect of the leaf is decidedly convex. 



Texture thin and semi-pellucid, of a fresh pale green to dark 

 olive, sub-lsevigate, undulate and reflexed when dry ; in more rigid 

 and deflexed, and of a lighter glaucous yellowish-green. 



Cells (f. 12, 7) with distinct, well-defined walls, those of the 

 margin smaller, quadrangular, ttVt^" ^^ diameter ; cells of the upper 

 third hexagonal, gfs" to y^" by t^qV to s^/ ; basal cells -^" 



Trigones (f. 12, 4) inconspicuous. Interior crowded with chlro- 

 phyll granules, which are most abundant near the walls. 



Teeth unicellular, or composed of 2-3 cells. 



Amphigastria generally present, but distant and irregular, 

 best seen at the base of the shoots ; minute, subulate, bifid, or 

 digitate. 



Dr. Gottsche (G. & E,. Hep. Eur. Ex. 320) describes at the base 

 of the terminal leaves of the growing axis, a bundle of minute, 

 jointed, hair-like bodies, resembling the paraphyses of mosses, 

 which he considers rudimentary amphigastria, but they resemble 

 more closely the " retort-shaped hairs," which always accompany 

 the ultimate cells of the stem. 



Inflorescence normally dioicous, but sometimes with the male 

 and fertile shoots springing from the same stolon (autoicous). 



Fertile shoots (f. 12, 1) erect, rarely exceeding two inches in 

 height. Fructification terminal, central between dichotomous 

 shoots, or sub-lateral. 



The var. major is always barren with us, and fructification is 

 confined to the form with prnnis confertioribus ! (Dill. 1. c. t. 69, 



f. 6.) 



I append the capital description of the colesule from Dillenius 

 (pinnis laxioribus, t. 69, f. 5, a, b, c), which is applicable to both 

 varieties : — 



" E surculorum extremitatibus hyeme foUiculos pallidos, satis 



I 



