62 BRITISH HEPATIC^. 



croscope distant hollow cells, surrounded by an ill-defined border. 

 " On boiling tbe leaf for a few moments in weak liquor potassse, 

 and then staining with a drop of zinc biniodide, the true form of 

 the cell is displayed, and its different membranes defined (f. 14, 11). 

 Externally is the translucent hexangular wall, ' membrana pri- 

 maria-,' at each of the corners of which we observe a triangular 

 clear space, ' trigonum interstitiale ' of authors ; within that the 

 contracted six-angled ' membrana secundaria,' containing the pro- 

 toplasm, and coloured violet by the solution {vide f. 31, 7) : this 

 again includes the ' nucleus,' generally yellow-coloured, — the ' pri- 

 mordial utricle ' of Mohl." — {Irish Qryp. p. 19, t. ii. 3.) 



Inflorescence dioicous. 



Fertile shoots accrescent. Involucral leaves (f. 14, 1, 4) terminal, 

 but soon superimposed by proliferous ramuli, larger but not differ- 

 ing in shape from the ordinary leaves, erecto-patent, margins revo- 

 lute, densely spinose-dentate. 



Colesule (f. 14, 1, 9) laterally compressed from a ventricose 

 base, urceolate, about -yq" long, bilabiate, the lips rounded, ciliate- 

 dentate, enclosing 10 to 15 pistillidia, which are flask-shaped or 

 linear (f. 14, 10), " of a greyish colour, with longitudinal reddish 

 streaks," but always barren. 



In /3 punctata the colesule is shorter, inversely heart-shaped, 

 distinctly alate, and fringed with longer and more closely-set 

 spines. 



Male shoots distinct, more slender (-^")s irregularly fasciculate, 

 with distant secund bidentate leaves, the ventral margin beset 

 with fewer (2-3) teeth. 



Androecimm (f. 13, 6) terminal or interrupted, ovate-lanceolate, 

 spicate, not unfrequently flagelliferous at the apex. 



Ferigonial leaves (f. 13, 7) 6-12 pairs, closely imbricated, erect, 

 compressed, broadly ovate, saccate at the base, dorsal margin in- 

 cumbent, slightly reflexed, entire, apex acute or bi-dentate, ventral 

 margin irregularly denticulate, recurved. 



Antheridia in groups of 2 or 3 (f. 13, 7), oval, greyish-green, 

 seated on a slender stipes, 



Obs. — The enlarged figure in British Jung. (t. xiv. f. 3) represents an attenuate 

 and abnormal condition of the species, with narrow distant leaves, apparently dentate 

 at the apex only (from the recurvation of the leaves it is difficult to show the ventral 

 toothing), and with the colesules (five of which are shown on one shoot), comparatively 

 larger and more naked than usual. Dr. Gottsche suggests that the figure may repre- 

 sent a new species, but I have examined from the herbariuin of the late 0. Lyell, Esq.* 



* These specimens were most likely sent by Miss Hutchins from Bantry, who 

 first discovered the barren calyces. " The greater part of these were old and entirely ' 

 empty ; others had barren pistilla, but none had the fructification further advanced." — 

 Hooker, I. a. 



