BRITISH HEPA-TICiE. . 31 



Within the cells we find two or three round or oblong amyloid 

 bodies, but less conspicuous than in N. scalaris. 



AmpMgastria ovate-subulate, rare except near the apex of stems 

 and innovations, resembling the ordinary leaves in texture. 



Dioicous. Fertile stems (flg. 9, 2) thickened at the apex, 



Involucral leaves (fig. 9, 3) terminal, two or three pairs, larger 

 and more decidedly reniform ; terminal pair compressed, adnate 

 with the upper portion of the oblong-clavate involucre, entire, or 

 slightly u.ndulate and retuse. The lower leaves are also attaclied 

 to the thickened walls, and base of the involucre. Involucral 

 ampMgastria ovate, irregularly lobate, the margin reflexed. 



Colesule (fig. 9, 6) immersed, connate with the involucral walls, 

 the apex alone free : at first entire and rostellate, but after the 

 egress of the capsule divided into four acute segments. 



Capsule (fig. 9, 6) dark brown, somewhat variable in form, 

 but generally longer than broad, roundish-oval, splitting into four 

 oblong valves. 



Pedicel rather short, succulent, white. 



Spores (fig. 9, 7) minute, reddish-brown, roundish, from —400" 



^" H66 • 



Maters (fig. 9, 7) hyaline, enclosing a double spiral thread 



T4o" to -Ywo'' long, by ^^00" to TT5o" broad. 



Male shoots more slender, of nearly uniform diameter. 



Terigordal leaves (fig. 9, 4) terminal, sub-spicate, or inter- 

 rupted, roundish, more concave, the base ventricose, enclosing 2-3 

 ovate, olive antheridia. 



Obs. To the late Miss Hutohins, of Bantry, -who was the first to investigate in 

 -earnest tlie ricli cryptogamic flora of the South of Ireland, we owe the recognition of 

 this fine species. 



It seems, however, to have been collected by DiUenius in North Wales, since it is 

 figured at T. 69, f. 1, F. G. of the Historia Muscornm. 



The " Zichenastrum alpinuni purpureum " has been r,eferred by most authors to 

 Pleurozia cochleariformis, Dum. ; but Dr. Lindberg, who has recently examined the 

 specimens contained in the Dillenian Herbarium, states that not a vestige of that 

 species is to be found there ; but that the figures A. and I. represent Nardia 

 obovata (barren), B. D. E, H. Scapania widulata, C. Nardia emarginata, and F. G. 

 N. compressa. 



In a letter to Sir W. Hooker, enclosing specimens of N. compressa, from Loch 

 Bray, the late G. Lyell, Esq., described the species very happily : — 



" The leaves are bifarious, and the insertion is nearly at right angles with the 

 stalk ; so that, when viewed laterally, they project on both sides of it (about two- 

 thirds towards the front, and one-third towards the back). When moist, the leaves are 

 plane, and the insides of the opposite ones touch each other, which gives the plant a 

 singularly compressed appearance, and makes it refuse (sic) to li§ in any position except 



its side." 



I have more than once referred to the peculiar ramification of Nardia. Instead 

 of the ordinary furcate division of the stem, met -with in most Jungermannise, the 



