498 
OUR BRITISH JUNGBRMANNIJ. 
BY MARGARET FLUES, 
T HERE is a group among our cryptogamous plants of 
exceeding delicacy of structure and grace of form, which 
lack their due meed of observation from plant lovers. These 
are the Jungermannige, or Liverworts, constituting the main 
part of the family of Hepaticae, the second section of the 
Calyptreae of Mohr, divided by him from the Mosses, because 
of the want of an operculum or lid, the distinguishing mark 
in the moss group. These Jungermannige exhibit cellular 
structure to perfection. With a pocket lens you can see the 
transparent network of the leaves, and under the microscope 
they become most beautiful objects. No male organs are dis- 
covered; the seeds are extremely minute, they are mingled 
with elastic spiral threads, and contained in a receptacle of a 
round or oval form ; when the seeds are ripe the receptacle 
bursts into four parts, and thus when empty appears as a 
minute brown cross. This receptacle is supported upon a 
foot-stalk of greater or less length, sometimes measuring but 
a few lines, and sometimes attaining the length of two or 
three inches ; it is slender, colourless, and almost transparent, 
and resembles spun glass ; the oblong cells of which it is 
composed appear like joints under the microscope. The 
stalk rises from a tubtdar perichgetium or calyptra formed 
upon the stem, or frond ; it varies in form, being sometimes 
entire at the mouth, and consisting simply of the tube, but 
more frequently torn and jagged, and often accompanied by 
sepal-like formations. 
The Jungermannige are parted into two great divisions : 
those assuming a form such as we are familiar with in many 
sea-weeds, are called Frondosae ; and those with distinct stem 
and leaves, rather resembling mosses in their growth, are 
named Foliosge. These latter are subdivided into Stipulatge 
and ex- Stipulatge, according to whether or no there are rudi- 
mentary leaves, or stipulge, under the stem, accompanying the 
true leaves. 
During the damp, mild weather of this winter and early 
spring, I have amused myself by the constant search for 
Jungermannige. One wood, with many paths and a pleasant 
name — the Chase Wood — has been my hunting ground, if I 
may be permitted to use a term so at variance in meaning from 
what it formerly signified. 
