288 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



in their earlier stages, with capsules of Filices at similar pe- 

 riods of development. 



' In the female organs a good deal of diversity exists.* Jung- 

 rrmannia, in the primary evolution of its peduncle bears an 

 exact analogy to Musei. I am not aware whether this has 

 been noticed previously, although the vaginulation is clearly 

 represented in the figure of J. saccata, Hook. Muse. Exot. t. 

 1G. Putting this inverseness of evolution aside, the general form 

 of the order, excepting in lticcioideae, and Anthocerateae, is to 

 have the fecundated ovarium provided with an interior free 

 membrane, immediately enclosing the young sporula. The 

 Pist ilium is similar in structure to that of Musci, they are 

 generally aggregate ; and it is a curious fact that in those 

 ipeoiea of Jungcrmannia, the involucra of which are closed, 

 owing to the nearly complete cohesion of the component 

 parts, they appear to be solitary, while in those with open in- 

 volucra they are aggregate. This is just the contrary to what 

 we should expect. As in Musci, the pistillum only ap- 

 pears to perform an important part during the first changes 

 consequent on fecundation. That portion which corresponds 

 to the ovary, owing to the enlargement of the inner membrane, 

 soon assumes a membranous appearance, and is subsequently 

 ruptured, and always as it appears, irregularly. In no in- 

 stance does it, become separated by its base, or become 

 carried upwards, although it has received the name of ca- 

 lyptra, and although the young capsule* of Anthoceros is 

 stated to be tipped by a Calyptra. It rarely disappears en- 

 tirely, traces of its base being generally present, although 

 from their extreme tenuity they are very liable to be over- 

 looked. Throughout the stages antecedent to its rupture, and 

 in many cases even after this, it is always to be recognised by 

 its style. 



The inner membrane subsequently becomes the capsule, 



* They are either terminal as in the foliaceous Jungcrmanniae, endo- 

 phyllos as an liiccia, Anthocros etc. or hypophyllos, as in Marchantia 

 Turgionia, etc. 



