(J. furcata.) 
BRITISH JUNGERMANNRE. 
on the ground, in subalpine countries. — y. has been found in various parts of Ireland by 
Miss Hutchins, Mr. Templeton, Mr. Turner, and Mr. Mackay.— At Kinnordy, Scotland, by 
Mr. Lyell, and near Fortar by Mr. George Don ; but no fructification has hitherto been 
discovered upon this variety. 
Plant growing in large dense patches, closely appressed to the surface, which affords it nourish- 
ment. 
The Roots consist of simple, white fibres, produced here and there from the lower surface of 
the midrib of the frond, and not easily distinguished from the hairs which are intermixed 
with them. 
Fronds from half to three-quarters of an inch or rather more in length, creeping, horizontal, 
lying over each other in an imbricated manner : in width scarcely equalling half a line : 
throughout linear thin and submembranaceous, slightly waved, the margins quite entire, 
never (except in a very young state) simple, always branched in a somewhat dichotomous 
manner, with the ramuli furcate for the most part at the extremity; whence the name : 
the apices obtuse : the upper surface is destitute of hairs or covering of any kind ; but the 
margin and the surface beneath are beset more or less thickly with rather stout, white, 
and simple hairs, which upon the margin have very frequently a ciliated appearance. The 
texture is delicate, the cellules roundish ; the color a pale and pleasant green. Throughout 
the whole length of the frond and its ramifications a central, slender, but very distinct, 
nerve or midrib extends, on the lower surface alone of which are seen a few hairs : there 
too it gives rise to innovations, which are to be observed at almost every season of the year, 
and in various stages of growth, from the young, ovate, and almost nerveless shoot 
(t. lv. f. 17), to the larger, anther-bearing, and branched kinds, which in every respect 
resemble the parent, separating from it in a little time, throwing out roots, and becoming 
a new anu distinct individual. 
Male Fructification abundant on distinct individuals from the female (see tab. lv.), placed 
within a peculiar receptacle or perigonium, attached to the underside of the frond ( f. 15, 16), and 
always upon the midrib. It has the appearance of being a young shoot or innovation (for in 
color and texture I can perceive no difference) rolled up into a spherical figure, and generally 
beset externally with bristle-shaped hairs (f. 18). It is sufficiently pellucid to admit of the 
Jnthers being obscurely seen within, and on cutting or tearing open a perigonium (f. 19), 
they may be distinctly seen to be fixed, in clusters of three or four in each, to the midrib. 
Ihey are of an ovate or spherical form (f. 20, 21), faintly reticulated in an early stage of 
growth, more remarkably so when arrived at their full size. The footstalk is very short, 
white, obscurely striated. 
Female Fructification (tab. lvi.) arising from various parts of the lower surface of the 
midrib. 
Hie Calyx at first resembles a scale (f. 3. 5), appressed to the frond, of a roundish form, 
convex on the external surface, at the extremity, and, indeed, not unfrequently along the 
whole margin, very beautifully fringed with long whitish cilia or hairs : at a more 
advanced period (f. 6) it may be seen to be two-lobed, and when the calyptra is exserted 
the calyx is cut into two very deep, subreniform lobes, which are conduplicate, embracing 
the base of the calyptra (f. f. 3. 8. and 9). These, I have great reason to believe, shoot 
out into innovations, after the decay of the fructification; for their two-lobed figure 
gradually disappears, and the calyces are converted into shoots, like that represented at 
f. 13. of Tab. lvi. 
