BRITISH HEPATICJi;. 71 



Leaves more distant, sub-secund, or near the summit patent- 

 divergent. In form they vary from circular (f. 29, 3) to ovate- 

 obtuse, or ovate-acuminate (f. 29, 2). " The orbicular leaves are 

 in almost every instance concave on the upper surface, and convex 

 beneath ; those of the second description are likewise slightly con- 

 cave ; whilst those which are ovate and acute are either plane, 

 slightly concave, or have their sides incurved " {Kooh. 1. c. t. xxxiv.). 

 The rounded leaves are generally found near the base of the shoots, 

 whilst the acute ones, whether plane or complicate, are confined 

 to the extremity, and are more distant and divergent. Hooker also 

 states that, "at the extreme apex" (f. 29, 1) "three or four leaves 

 (before their expansion) often embrace each other so closely as to 

 form an oblong acute mass, which may, without due examination, 

 be readily mistaken for a calyx." The base of the leaves is less 

 decurrent and sheathing, and the margins normally entire, but from 

 the growth of proliferous cells often jagged and erose. 



Amphigastrict always present, broadly subulate, readily over- 

 looked from the surrounding radicles. 



Texture of the leaves thinner and more pellucid than in 

 M. Taylori. Colour pale green, ochraceous, tinged with reddish- 

 brown towards the summit. 



Cells (f. 29, 5) remarkably large and translucent, from hexagonal 

 to oblong, with thinner vails, and less developed trigones. 



Marginal cells sub-quadrate, -^^"' in diameter. Those near the 

 centre of the leaf e^o" by -i^". Basal cells arranged- in linear 

 series, oblong, -g\Q" to ■^\-q" long, by -g-^o" broad. Trigones not 

 confined to the angles of the cells. In the upper cells a single 

 intermediate incrassation is met with, but in the lower ones, two, 

 -or even three, conical thickenings of the wall are found, smaller 

 than and interposed between the regular trigones. The cells, when 

 fresh, contain numerous greenish chlorophyll granules, and three 

 to six lenticular granular bodies (f. 29, 3), such as were described 

 under Nardia. Treated with the iodide of zinc solution, the 

 cells are stained of a uniform deep purple, with the exception 

 of the clear margin and trigones. Cuticle smooth, free from 

 papillae. 



Involucral bracts roundish-ovate, patent from a vaginate base, 

 not at all connate. Bracteole lanceolate, patent, bearing a shorter 

 acute segment near the lower third. 



Colesule narrower, linear-ovate (three or even four times longer 

 than broad, i" X aV')' ™.ou-th truncate, twisted to one side, minutely 

 denticulate, the teeth composed of 3 or 4 cells, the apical one 

 rounded. 



Capsule ovate, with thick walls, seated on a short pedicel. 



Spores fulvous, xiVo" iii diameter. Maters about ax^" wide, 

 by TkT to lio" long. 



Male spikes frequent, mostly terminal. 



