( J . epiphylla. ) 
BRITISH JUNGERMANNLE. 
them accord in the important parts of the fructification. With regard to the individual which is 
the subject of the present description, it is without difficulty distinguished from J. pinguis and 
J. vmltifida, in having a nerve, which, however obscure in some of the old specimens, may in all 
be seen by holding the plant between the eye and the light, and may be traced on the under side 
of the plant by the insertion of the roots, since these are confined to the nerve itself. In this 
respect, indeed, it resembles J. furcata, J. Blada, and the beautiful J. Lyellii, mss. Yet it is 
with the latter alone that it can be confounded, and with it only in a barren state; but this is a 
far more delicate plant than epiphtjlla, is furnished with a very distinct, though narrow, nerve, 
and has the margin beset with a few scattered teeth. 
In the situation of its anthers, J. epiphylla differs from every known species; they being 
placed singly, and immersed in small scattered tubercles upon the upper surface of the nerve, as 
has been long known by the able descriptions and illustrations, first of Schmidel, and afterwards 
of Hedwig. The hitter author in particular has been so fortunate, as not only to have observed in 
this species the explosion of the farina from the anther, but to have seen the seeds germinating, and 
has thus been able to bring forward the strongest arguments in favor of his own system. Speaking 
of the little bodies imbedded in the tubercles, “ Antheras hie esse," he says, “ dubitare nullus 
poteram. Quo verb earum confonnationem et structuram eo distinctihs extricarem, auferebam, 
consueto mihi more, particulam seetione perpendiculari utrinque secundum longitudinem per 
aliquot horum punctulorum ducta. Hanc aquce guttulse in lamellfi vitrei immitto, ut si notatu 
digniora adparerent, delineationi conservarem. Lsetus animadverto apparatum, tab. xvm. a. 
fig. 3. expression cum suis tribus folliculis, massft levissimb granulosS. onustis. Atque en, singularis 
fortunae favor : inter delineandum scaturire de illo follieulo b, per superinductum superficiei 
vesiculosum opus cuticuke, incipit massa granulata, eandem in figuram ac ibi delineata habetur. 
Persistebat in eft. duorum circiter minutorum intervallo: postmodum verb anteriora versus, 
nimirbm a. a. ejusdem figurse inclinare incipiens, brevi distrahebantur partieulae motu vivido. 
Testimonio adeoque demhm, contra asexualistas, quam evidentissimo, nequidem his deficere sua 
mascula organa.” 
With regard to the germination of the seeds of J. epiphylla, the same author remarks, 
“ Anno 1?80, mense Aprilis, cum Jungermannife seminulis ovatis, viridibus, extremitate altera 
angustiore, dilucidiore, sationis feci aliquod periculum, in testula terra repleta adaptataquc huic 
experimento: inspergebam superficiei pulvillum capsularum et felicissimo cum successu. Intu- 
mescebant ista seminula post aliquot dies; deinde a dilutiore extremo prodibat radicula simplex, 
alba, pellucentissima. Reticulata primi incrementi fabrica, subinde in perfectas plantulas ultrb 
expandebantur. Sic et de his certius constat: pulverem capsularum semina esse vera, faeturft. 
antherarum vivificata.” 
1 
