( J. multifidd.J 
BRITISH J UNGER MANN IiE. 
or bipiniiate (f. f. 1. 3. 5. 6), in which case, the pinnae are distantly placed, alternate, 
patent or horizontal, beset with less remote pinnulae, which are again not unfrequently 
furnished with other still smaller ones : all these at the apex are obtuse, and somewhat 
dilated, rarely emarginate. The substance of the plant is carnose, succulent, externally 
appearing reticulated, but within evidently composed of many cellules, which, in the 
thicker individuals, cause it to appear opaque when held against the light ; the thinner 
ones are more pellucid. The color is a pale green, more or less inclining to yellow, and 
even brown, after having been long dried. 
Male Fructification (f. 8) situated in prominent tubercles, arising from various parts of the 
frond. In each of these, there are four or five Anthers (f. 9) imbedded within the cellular 
substance, of a nearly spherical figure, sometimes inclining to ovate, reticulated externally ; 
within having a greyish granulated pollen, around which a pellucid border or limbus is often 
\isible (f. 10). The footstalks are white, and transversely striated. 
Female Fructification (f. f. 6. 7. 1G. 17) always arising from immediately beneath the margin, 
never terminal, nor by any means confined to the base of the plant, as some authors have con- 
sidered it to be. 
Calyx (f. 17) very short, somewhat hemispherical, having, however, its base slightly at- 
tenuated, its mouth expanded, and cut into numerous short, but unequal, sharp lacinke, 
which give it a beautifully fimbriated appearance. In color it resembles the frond, and 
in texture likewise, except that it is thinner, and the cellules, at the extremity of the 
laciniae, form a simple series, like the joints of a Conferva. 
Pistilla (f. 17) five or six in each calyx, of a pale, greyish color, striated longitudinally 
and transversely, their figure ovato-oblong, with the mouth slightly expanded. After 
impregnation, one of them rises erect, or at most with a little curve at its base, to the 
height of a line, or even more : then becoming the 
Calyptra, oblong, of a nearly cylindrical figure, widening, however, a little, but gra- 
dually, towards the extremity; its base filling the whole calyx, which is closely ap- 
pressed to it : its apex is often terminated by a very short and tubular style, but more 
frequently nothing is there observable but the minute tubercles which cover every other 
part of the calyptra, and form one of the most striking characters of the species. The 
whole is of a yellowish white color, the texture thick, tleshy, cellulose. At the apex, it 
bursts with a small and jagged opening, for the emission of the capsule. 
Peduncle nearly an inch in length, white, cellnlose, not unfrequently twisted. 
Capsule large, oblong, brown, striated longitudinally and transversely, dividing, at length, 
into four equal lineari-lanceolate segments or valves, and discharging the 
Seeds, which are spherical, and fulvous. The spiral fdaments are of the same color, com- 
posed of a single helix (f. 15) tapering at each extremity: these are affixed to the apices 
of the valves, and there the greater number of them continue to adhere in the form of 
tufts or pencils after the dispersion of the seeds, and till the capside itself is in a state 
of decay. 
Gemma: (f. f. 18. 19) produced in small loose clusters, beneath an incurved extremity of the 
stem, whence they are easily detached, and, under a microscope, appear to be composed 
of a nearly spherical, pellucid, white, and extremely thin cuticle, within containing a 
mass of a green, minutely granulated substance, which is often collected into three dis- 
tinct balls. The individuals, which 1 have hitherto observed to produce these Gemmae, 
are such as have neither male nor female fructification. 
