BRITISH JUNGERMANNI/E. 
( J. pinguis. J 
I have already, under J. multifida, noticed the characters by which that species may be known 
From the smaller varieties of J. pinguis, which, indeed, in the general outline of the frond, bears 
a still closer resemblance to J. epiphylla .■ the difficulty of distinguishing these two, will, however, 
vanish when the greater thinness and far less succulent nature, the larger cellules, more reticulated 
appearance, and, above all, the nerve of the latter are taken into consideration. The female 
fructification of the two species is also totally different in its situation, and affords most decisive 
and never-failing marks of distinction. Dillcnius, who was well acquainted with the two in this 
state, has assuredly fallen into an error, in his tab. 64. f. 42. r. s. and k. where he has represented 
the antheriferous fronds of J. epiphylla j although he has, in the same plate and figure, at the 
letters t. and u. published a very satisfactory likeness of the true male fructification of J. pinguis. 
In Schmidel’s plate also of J. pinguis ('leones, tab. 35. f. 1.6. 7), is figured a Jungermannia, 
which, not only in the shape of the frond, but also in the tubercles which it bears on its upper 
surface, has a close resemblance to the anther-bearing specimens of J. epiphylla ; but the contents 
of these tubercles, or acervuli, as they are called, are so different from the anthers of ./. epiphylla, 
that it impossible they should be intended for them : their structure, also, is most remarkable, 
which tempts me to transcribe Schmidel’s elaborate description of them, causing, at the same time, 
no little regret, that it is neither in my power to confirm, by my own observation, so interesting 
an account, or even to suggest an opinion, as to their probable use. “ Maio et Junio, ac sequentibus 
aestivis mensibus observati cespites in medio disco monstrare solent glomeres seu acervulos, ex 
basi rotunda in conicam formam elevatos, modb alternos, modb Conjugatos, ex supina frondis facie 
surgentes, totos ex vesiculari laxaque compage conflatos, pro incremento frondis semper sibi 
succedentes, quo durante, apex rami erigitur et introrshm complieatur ; eo verb cessante, ampliari 
et explanari incipit. Juniores virescunt, in vertice foveolam gerentes : adultiores aut soli, aut cum 
to tli frondis substantia, rubescere plei unique incipiunt. Sensim cuticula seu reticulum foveolae 
distenditur, ut, contenta in acervulo transpareant. Paullo post liquor comprehensus aut nudus 
conspicitur, aut pars ejus in ve^iculas oblongas, numero octo, novem vel decern extuberat, qua; 
foveam, coronse instar, ambiunt j mox tamen sponte cadere non tardant. Vesiculas istas a liquore 
acervuli proficisei, inde patet, quia semper post vesicularum ortum cavea minus plena reperitur. 
Liquor ipse densiusculus, non perlucens, sed laciei coloris est, et comprehenditur cavea uniloculari, 
ex rotundo oblonga, in ipsius acervuli gremio exsculptft, cujus orificium propria serie reticuli 
circumdatur. Aliquit moill interjects, succus is, aut in rnoleculas minimas divisus, aut in globuli 
ovalis reticulati formam conglutinatus, exploditur magis, quam effunditur, vel ad acervuli latera, 
vel in frondem ipsam. Non autem diu ita restat, sed non ipse solhm, sed et vcsiculae supra diets 
propullulantes intra diei decursum vel intra biduum, ut distincte vidi, sordescunt, diflluunt atque 
tandem disparent. Quo facto, cavea vacua aliquandiu restat, et tandem cum ipso acervulo decrepito 
aboletur. Eodem temporis spatio versus apices ramorum noduli aut tubercula occurrunt, in 
superficie pronsl frondis sita, et supern'e transparent ia, qua; ex omni verisimilitudine vasculorum 
primordia sunt, commodissimh tunc fecundanda.” — Then again, after describing the female 
fructification, he continues: “ Rebus ita se habentibus, si liquoris, in acervulis content!, natura 
et brevis duratio considerate, ex omni veil similitudine acervuli organa masculina, et liquor 
eorum, ftecundans dici merentur. Efficacia liquoris istius, eo tempore elfusi, quo flosculi vasculifcri 
primis'incunabulis involuti adhuc sunt, tempestive transferri potest ad loca destinata, non obstante 
styli brevitate • cbm maxima filorum pars vertici Vasculi inserta reperiatur, cujus rei exempla alia 
in po^terum adhuc occurrent. Ex alter* parte Granula, concursu plurium structurarum elaborata 
et disseminata, diuque post dispersionem durantia, pro seminibus, et Flosculi Vasculaque pro 
