BRITISH JUNGERMANNI/E. 
( J. pusilla.J 
Seeds spherical, numerous, of a rich brown color, rough, and with prominent points or 
tubercles. The spiral filaments are short, composed of a double helix. A few of them 
remain, Schmidel says, after the dispersion of the seeds, attached to the bottom of the 
capsule in the form of a tuft or pencil. 
What the “semina” maybe, “in racemos disposita per ramulorum longitudinem,” figured 
and described by Micheli on this species, I am at a loss to determine. The conjecture of Schmidel 
is probably just, that they are some parasitic fungus, and of Mohr, that they may be some species 
either of Monilia or Botrys. The curious bodies, which Schmidel himself has taken for the male 
fructification of this species, have unhappily, altogether, escaped my notice ; but his description is 
worthy of attention, and I shall offer no apology for the length of the following extract, though I 
cannot help expressing my regret at being unable to throw any additional light upon the subject: 
“ Inter supremam pinnam,” he says, “ aut earn qua: incompleta est, aliquot aciculse occurrere 
solent absque involucro, sed plerumque aliqufi calicis specie instructi sunt. Ex medio enim caule, 
minutae, tenerrim®, vesiculares et Isetfe virides surgunt laeinul®, qus globulorum latera modo 
muniunt, modb cingunt, et plerumque cum globulis ipsis rurshs evanescunt, uno alterove forte 
diutihs restante. Superficies globulorum externa tuberculis incerti numeri, decern aut pluribus, 
aliquanthm pellucidis insqualis est, et paries totus ex vesiculis minutissimis rotundis conflatur, 
quas lens summit augens demiim detegit. Discissi globuli vesiculas succum crocei colons satis 
copiosum includentes promunt, neque solid! quid, seminis alicujus genium aut formam monstrans 
possident, adeoque eo respectu satis declarant, quod organi masculini et Antherarum vices expleant. 
It will, however, at once be seen that these supposed “Organi masculini are very different ftom 
the Anthers in the annexed plate, which, in every respect, resemble those in other species of the 
genus, and differ in nothing from what are represented by Hedwig, except in color; and this, 
probably, varies in different stages of their existence. 
With regard to the affinities of this species, I know of none to which it is at all naturally allied; 
and, indeed, its extremely delicate capsule, and the manner in which it bursts, are almost sufficient 
to afford characters for its separation from the rest of the genus, did not the habit of the plant 
forbid it. In the calyx, two remarkable peculiarities may be observed, in the widely-expanded 
mouth, and the stipulaceous processes, or the bracte®, as they might be called, at the base. The 
situation, too, of the fructification is very curious, unaccompanied by perigomal or penehastial 
leaves; and the whole plant diffuses an agreeable odor, not unlike that of the sweet sedge. 
Acorns Calamus. 
The crisped leaves' of this plant suggested to Schmidel the idea that it resembled a lettuce; 
for he says “ gregafiim nascitur et propihs inspecta minutos lactuc® c®spites imitator, quibus 
etiam Michelius adsimilavit;" and Roth, considering that this appearance was peculiar to the 
voune plants, observes, “ Planta pusilla, in juniore ffitate caespitem minutulum, lcetb vindem, 
crispum et, ut bene monet Michelius, lactuc® ccespiti temulum representat; provectiore tetate sese 
magis extendunt frondes et evolvuntur.” 
