BRITISH JUNGERMANNI/E. 
('J. BlasiaJ 
excepted) . These, too, are upon the nerve. In the midst of one of these clusters, I 
found a single pistillum swollen into a germen (tab. 84. f. 5) of an ovato-laneeolate form, 
and of a greyish-brown color, and tipped with a rather large and perforated style. 
It might be expected that, in a similar situation, the germen would be seen in a more 
advanced state; but this I could never observe to be the case: on the contrary, the 
progress of the fructification seems to be altogether internal. I have not been able to find 
an external germen more swollen than that above described; but in innumerable instances, 
on dissecting fronds, such as are figured at tab. 83. f. 12,* having an oval inflation on 
the frond, with a slight depression and scar, or umbilicus, in the centre, I have never 
failed to see the germen in different states of advancement towards maturity ; and this 
will be better understood, by a reference to tab. 83. f. f. 3. 4. The upper individual, at 
f. 12, being dissected longitudinally, and exposed to the microscope, shewed an oblong 
hollow beneath the inflation above mentioned (tab. 83. f. 3) ; and within it was a calyx 
extending from the umbilical mark or cicatrice down to the lower extremity of the hollow 
or receptacle. 
This calyx is of an oblongo-lanceolate and acuminate figure, closed at the top, bladder-like, 
whitish, membranous, scarcely reticulated, semitransparent, so that within is seen the 
Germen, already so much swollen as to be of a pyriform figure, tipped with a short, curved 
style, and of an olive-green color : at the base it is inserted into the receptacle by means 
of a small bulb. In its progress towards maturity, its increasing size causes the calyx to 
burst, and portions of it remain attached to the umbilicus (tab. 83. f. 4), and at the 
bottom of the germen on the receptacle (tab. 83. f. 7). The Germen is now become of 
an oblongo-ovate figure, and the reticulated appearance of the outer covering or calyptra 
is very striking. Advancing still more, the fructification bursts open the upper surface 
of the frond, in a very irregular manner, always above the inflation, and nearly at the 
apex of the frond (tab. 32. f. 2). 
Calyptra, even when about to burst, scarcely exserted above the aperture of the frond, 
sometimes not at all so, in which case the opening is formed by the capsule. 
Peduncle white, succulent, from half an inch to an inch long, erect, but waved, striated. 
and somewhat twisted. , 
Capsule ovato-globose, whitish at the base, tbe rest pale olive-brown. It opens into four 
equal, ovate valves, whose texture is, under the microscope, beautifully reticulated, and 
the borders of the areolae have a dotted appearance (tab. 83. f. 10). 
Seeds : these, if removed from the fully formed germen or young capsule, are roundish, ot 
an olive-green color, enveloped in a pellucid membrane, and lying together f m threes; 
though sometimes only two, and rarely four are found in a cluster (tab. 83. f. f. 5. C). n 
this state of the fructification, too, the filaments are most evidently likewise surrounded 
by a pellucid tube. The ripe seeds fall from the capsule singly (tab. 83. f. 11), but are 
still within a membrane, and do not differ from the young seeds, except in being of a 
darker color. I can perceive no tubular membrane about the fully formed spiral filaments, 
which are rather long, closely twisted, and formed of a double helix. 
* And the same appearance 
there exserted. 
represented highly magnified, on the fronds, at tab. 83. f. 2, although the capsules 
•f Such is the case too in J. Hookeri. 
