HEPATICAE NATALEXSES. 



15 



none which quite agree with this; it approaches nearest to 

 our British Plagiochila spinulosa. 



Description of Tab. IX. Fig. 1. Plant nat. size. 2. Por- 

 tion of branch X 24, antical view. 3. Ditto X 24 

 postical view. 4. Portion of J branch X 24. 5. Portion 

 of leaf X 290. 6. Antheridia X 24. 



12. Plagiochila Natalensis n. sp. 



Gaules repentes; rami ascendentes, dichotome ramosi 

 elatiusculi, rigidi; flavido-virides ; folia imbricata, angulo 

 50^, elongata, semicordata, apice truncata, margine antica 

 (inferiore) longe decurrentia, integerrima, recurva; margine 

 postica, (superiore) undulata; parte proxima cauli et parallela 

 ei, recurva, integerrima; parte propinqua apici et apice 

 parce dentata; bractae subrotundae irregulariter dentatae; 

 perianthia obovata, alata; ala denticulata, ore spinoso- 

 dentata. 



Stems creeping, bare ; branches ascending, dichotomously 

 furcate, 2 inches high, lower portion of branches bare; 

 colour yellowish green; rigid. Leaves imbricate, antical 

 (lower) margin of leaf at an angle of 50°, postical (upper) 

 at an angle of from 70*^ to 90°; elongate, semi cordate, apex 

 truncate, antical margin much decurrent, entire, recurved, 

 postical undulate, the part nearest to the stem and parallel 

 with it recurved, entire, the part near the apex and apex 

 distantly dentate; cells medium size oblong, some contracted 

 in the middle, indistinct, cell walls thick, trigones indefinite, 

 large. Underleaves only present on some branches, bifid, 

 segments with a marginal tooth. Dioicous, only the $ 

 plant met with. Bracts subrotund irregularly dentate. 

 Perianth compressed, obovate, winged, wings narrow, denti- 

 culate, mouth spinose-dentate. 



Measurements. Branches 2 in. high, 3. to 3.5 mm 

 broad with leaves .25 to .35 mm diam,, leaves 2. mm long 

 X 1.4 mm broad near base 1.8 X 1.5, 1.8 X 1.3, 1.8 X 

 1.0, breath at apex of leaf .7 mm, .6, .5, .4, cells .04 X 



