58 BMTISH HEPATIC^. 



magnos exerit, primum cernuos, dein rectos, in summitate apertos 

 et quasi bivalves (e membrana pellucida convoluta formatos) e 

 quibus verno tempore pedunculi enascuntur albicantes pellucidi, 

 longitudine semunciali et unciali, grana gerentes ovata, nigricantia 

 et splendentia, in quatuor lacinias fusco-rufescentes dehiscentia, et 

 pulverem tenuem fundentia" (1. c. p. 482). 



Involucral leaves (f. 12, 2) slightly larger than those of the 

 stem, ereeto-patent, embracing the base of the colesule ; lateral 

 margins often revolute. 



Colesule (f. 12, 1, 2) 2 to 3 lines long by a line broad, oboonic- 

 oblong, laterally compressed, from a narrow sub-terete base ; curved 

 to one side (except during the egress of the capsule), bilabiate, 

 obliquely truncate, ciliate-dentate. 



Calyptra (f. 12, 2) pyriform, tipped with a short style, texture 

 delicately reticulate, the base surrounded by numerous barren 

 pistillidia. 



Peduncle white, shining, loosely cellular, from one to two inches 

 in length, " inserted into the receptacle by means of a fibrous bulb 

 of an obconical shape, which is with ease drawn out along with the 

 peduncle." — Sook. 1. c. t. xiii. f, 10. This structure resembles the 

 vagmula of mosses, and it is not uncommon to find the calyptra 

 ruptured at its junction with the bulb, and carried up with the 

 growing capsule (f. 12, 2). 



Capsule (f . ] 2,. 2) ovate, purplish-brown, lustrous, dividing into 

 four ovate valves. 



Spores spherical, reddish-brown, y^g^" to nrer" ^^ diameter. 



Maters bi-spiral, j^' to tty" long by ^qq" to -2^0" broad. 



Andrcecium terminal or interrupted, ovate, spicate, either con- 

 nected with the fertile shoots or distinct. 



Ferigonial leaves (f. 12, 5) 6 to 8 pairs, erect, closely imbricated 

 in two rows, roundish, very concave, so as to surround and hide 

 the stem, saccate at the base, margins denticulate, reflexed at 

 the apex. 



Antheridia (f. 12, 6) in clusters of two to four, axillary, oval, of 

 a greyish-green colour, seated on a jointed slender peduncle nearly 

 as long as the anther. 



Obs. — The perigonial leaves, according to Hedwig, fall off when they are no longer 

 wanted to protect the antheridia, " oalvus est in caule locus, uhi flos fuerat, nam tegmina 

 antherarum subinde cadunt, vel consumuntur." In this state the shoots have a very- 

 bare, rigid, peculiar aspect, bearing at the apex only a few young leaves, and at length 

 developing new shoots from the axils of the old leaves. 



The Lichenastrum Asplenii facie pinnis confertioribus (Dill. Muse. p. 483, t. 69, 6), 

 although quoted by Dr. Taylor as a synonym of Flag. BiUenii, appears to be only a 

 more slender form of a major, depending for its characteristics upon a more exposed 

 and drier habitat than the large barren form so common among the undergrowth of 

 moist woods. In the original figure the shoots are represented as from two to three 



