Playiochila.] 
V. HEPATICA3. 
505 
brandling, stout, 1-3 in. high, olive-brown. Leaves closely imbricate, erecto- 
patent, obliquely cordate, concave, quite entire or minutely toothed ; margins 
recurved, dorsal gibbous ; involucral similar, but large. Perianth obconic, 
compressed; mouth entire or slightly toothed.— Syn. Hep. 53, 652. P. he- 
micardia, FI. Antarct. 148. t. 63. f. 2 ; Syn. Hep. 627. 
Lord Auckland’s group and Campbell’s Island : on rooks on the hills, J. 1). H. 
(Australia.) 
5. P. pleurota. Hook. f. and Tayl. FI. Antarct. 149. t. 63. f. 4; — 
Ft. N. Z. ii. 135. Stems tufted, erect, rigid, 1 in. high, sparingly branched, 
yellow-green. Leaves lax, erecto-patent, obovate, rather obtuse, sparingly 
irregularly toothed ; ventral margin slightly decurrent and recurved. Perianth 
exserted, narrow obovate, almost winged ; mouth contracted, toothed. — Syn. 
Hep. 633. P. coynata, 1. c. 14. t. 53. f. 3 ; Syn. Hep. 625. 
Middle Island : Port 'William, Lyall. Lord Auckland’s group on moist stones, 
etc., J. 1). II. — Nearly allied to P. Dicksoni, but not dendroid, and leaves more obovate. 
6. P. fuscella. Hook. f. and Tayl. FI. Antarct. 149. t. 63./. 5. Stems 
loosely tufted, patent, ascending, vaguely branched, brown or blackish, 
1—1^ in. high ; apices incurved. Leaves crisped when dry, erecto-patent, 
obliquely orbicular-oblong ; dorsal margin subrecurved, ventral subserrulate 
recurved. Perianth obovate, immersed, truncate, deflexed. — Syn. Hep. 
648. 
Lord Auckland’s group : in boggy places, J. D. H. 
§ 3. Leaves more or less vertical , alternate, the margins recurved, dorsal decurrent. 
+ S terns erect from a creeping rhizome, tall, very much branched in a tree-like or 
fascicled manner. Leaves toothed and usually spinulose. 
7. P. Stephensomana, Mitten in PI. N. Z. ii. 133. t. 95. Stems 
4-10 in. high, 2-3-pinnately branched. Leaves olive-green, ovate or obliquely 
cordate, subquadrate at the apex ; dorsal margin quite entire, ventral spinu- 
lose ; involucral similar, more toothed. Perianth on short proper branches, 
ovate, compressed ; mouth toothed. 
Northern and Middle Islands : in ravines, common, Colenso, Lyall , Stephenson, etc. 
— A magnificent plant, the noblest of all Hepaticce. 
8. P. gigantea, Lindb.; — PI. N. Z. ii. 133. Stems ascending, fasti- 
giately divided in a fan-shaped manner, recurved. Leaves spreading, orbicu- 
lar-quadrate, sharply denticulate and ciliate, nearly entire at the base. 
Perianth oblong, compressed ; mouth ciliate, dilated. — Hook. Muse. Exot. 
t. 93 ; Syn. Plep. 51. 
Abundant throughout the Northern and Middle Islands, Menzies, etc. 
9. P. ramosissima, Lindb. ; — FI. N. Z. ii. 133. Stems erect, exces- 
sively fastigiately branched. Leaves subopposite, erecto-patent, orbicular- 
ovate; dorsal margin quite entire, ventral spinulose dentate at the apex. 
Perianth urceolate ; mouth truncate, compressed, ciliate. — Hook. Muse. Exot. 
t. 92 ; Syn. Plep. 58. 
Middle Island : Dusky Bay, Menzies ; Port Preservation, Lyall. 
10. P. Arbus cola, Lelrn. and Lindb. ; — FI. N. Z. ii. 132. Stems erect, 
VOL. i. 2 L 
