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82 HEPATICH. (LIVERWORTS.) 
Orper 140. HEPATIC. (Liverworts.*) 
Moss-like plants, of a loose cellular texture, usually procumbent, and emit- 
ting rootlets from beneath ; the calyptra not separating from the base, but 
usually rupturing at the apex; the capsule not opening by a lid, containing 
spores usually mixed with ‘nua (which are thin thread-like cells, contain- 
ing one or two spiral fibres). — Vegetation sometimes frendose, i. e. the 
stem and leaves confluent into an expanded leaf-like mass; sometimes 
Joliaceous, when the leaves are distinct from the stem as in true Mosses, 
entire or cleft, 2-ranked, and often’with an imperfect or rudimentary row 
(amphigasiria) on the under side of the stem. Reproductive organs of two 
kinds, viz. antheridia and pistillidia, much as in Mosses (p. ih variously 
siseated. The matured or ge forms the capsule, which is immersed 
in or sessile upon the fro re a long cellular ‘poctoel, or 
attached to the under side of sigh susacdea vicentaslée, ici ehisees 
by irregular openings, by revolute segments at its apex, or lengthwise by 
2-4 valves: a columella is rarely present. The perianth is a tubular 
lar forms. The antheridia in the foliaceous species are situated in the 
axils of perigonial leaves; im the frondose species, scattered within the 
substance, or sessile upon the surface of the frond, or immersed in sessile 
or peduncled disk-like receptacles. 
Artificial Analysis of the Genera. 
I. Vegetation frondose as and leaves confluent in a ned 
columella wantin; 
1. RICCTA. earns valveless, 0 oarrai > as ersed in ae — none. 
2 SPHEXROCARPU: Tt ae globular, sessile on the frond. Involuere sessile 
imperfect: columella present. 
8 ANTHOCEROS. Capen valved, Sa linear, pedicslion. 
4. NOTOTHYLAS. fy 
* * tice with 1 or 2 sp’ pel sini columella none. 
ning irregularly, nearly sessile, Fertile receptacle peduncled. 
p -rayed. 
bed 
9. REBOULIA Piniegts receptacle hemispherical, 4-5 lobed; the lobes acute. 
es  eoneaangee _—— —— ded Cee, i scanel- Sine Totes trenente 
tuén 
12 PLAGIOCHASMA. Fertile receptacle minute, 2 - 4 lobed, i neva asenetieste 
Pe aera + + Capsule opening regularly by 4 valves, pedicelled. 
13. METZGERIA. Frond with idrib, which b meee aes Pe 
* By Wituiam 8S. Sutuvanr, Esq. 
