I ; !
2 -3 pairs, embracing the base of the perianth, or subreraote,
similar to stem leaves, but often much larger, shortly bifid, unequal,
repand, from base to nearly the middle composed of two layers of
cells ; pistillidia few, small. Perianth large, lanceolate-fusiform
when fruiting often elongate and almost linear, deeply trigonous,
from base to near the apex usually composed of two layers of cells
(at the keels and lower half often 3), near the middle a cross-
section shows a double row of about 150 small cells, smaller
perianths with 6 0-100 cells round, mouth contracted, narrow,
with 10-15 short, hyaline, obtusely rounded marginal cells.
Calyptra half the size of the perianth, lower half 2 cells thick,
afterwards the apex unequally bivalved, surrounded at the base by
the barren pistillidia. Pedicel more than twice the length of the
periantb. Capsule oblong, reddish-brown, composed of two layers
of cells. Spores globose, smoothish, broader than the elaters,
pale reddish-brown. Elaters of a paler colour than the spores,
bispiral, short, obtuse, about 12 turns of the spiral. Androecia
terminal, short, rarefy occupying the whole branch ; perigonial
bracts usually 5 -7 pairs, closely imbricate, ovate, bifid, concave,
swollen ; perigonial bracteole oblong, entire or bifid ; antheridia
very large, single, oval, surrounded by leafy processes in the
bracts.
Emits May.
D imensions.—Stems J to 1 inch long, T mm. diam., with
leaves near the apex P 2 5 mm. wide; leaves 1' mm. x ’55 mm.,
segments '25 mm., 2 mm., '9 mm. x '45 mm., seg. '3 mm.,
■25 mm., IT mm. x ’5 mm., seg. '3 mm., 7 mm. x '4 mm., seg.
•25 mm., -5 mm. x '3 mm., seg. '275 mm., '35 mm. x '15 mm. ;
cells -06 mm. x '02 mm., '08 nun. x '02 mm., '05 mm. x '02 mra.,
•05 mm. X '03 mm. ; stipules '8 mm. x '5 mm., seg. '3 mm.,
P 2 mm. x -5 mm., seg. '3 ram., '25 mm., I ' l mm. x '5 mm., seg.
•3 mm., -35 mm. x '12 mm. ; bracts 1-65 mm. x '55 mm., 1'25 mm.
x -65 mm., seg. '3 mm. ; bracteole P35 mm. x '6 mm., seg. '3 mm, ;
perianth 2' mm. x -5 mm., 2'25 mm. x '65 mm.; pistillidia
•13 mm. X -04 mm. ; cap.sule '6 mm. x '35 mm. ; spores '02 mm. ;
elaters '1 mra. x '0125 mm, ; perigonial bracts -6 mm. x -45 mm..
seg. 25 mm,, -15 mm., -6 mm. x '5 mm., seg. '2 mm., -15 mm.,
•65 mm. x '6 mm., seg, '3 ram., '25 mm., '4 mm. x '3 mm., seg.
•15 mm. ; perigonial bracteole '4 mm. x '25 mm., '3 mm. x '25 ram.;
antheridia '225 mm. x -15 mm.'
H ab.—Crowing on wet rooks by the margin of streams or in
moist situations in hilly or subalpine districts.
Somewhat rare. 7. Llanberis, Carnarvon, JF. JJ^ihon, TF II. P.
Cwm Idwal, Carnarvon, JF. H. P. Glyder Vawr, Carnarvon,
JF. H. P. 10. Goathland Beck, Eskdale, Yorks, Dr. Spruce,
M. B. Slater. High Force, Teesdale, Dr. Spruce, M. B. Slater,
G. Baker. 12. Langdale, Westmorland, G. Stabler. Borrowdale,
Cumberland, JF. II. P. 15. Head of Loch Avon, A. Croall.
Clockmaben, near Banchory, Aberdeenshire, T. Sim. Ben Venue,
Dr. Carrington. Dalmally, E. George. 16. Glen Pinnan, Br.
Carrington. Moidart, West Inverness, 8. Al. Alacvicar. I. Kerry,
Dr. Taylor, Dr. Spruce, Dr. Carrington, and others.
Found on the Continent (Norway, Sweden and North
Germany), and in Greenland.
Obs.— “ I n specimens from Brandon Mt. (Ireland) and from
Teesdale, Eskdale, &o., the branohes mostly originate from the
leafless lower portion of the stem, and (as there are no radicles to
indicate the underside of the stem) it is difficult to ascertain on
what face of the stem they are fixed ; but where they do spring
from a leafy part of it they are lateral, and a.xillary to the side-
leaves. Scotch specimens are more leafy, and the branches are
very distinctly lateral. Subfloral innovations are either lateral or
postical, and are often repeatedly innovant and floriferous ; as in
Hygrobiella myriocarpal Dr. Spruce.
A very distinct species, at once separated from any other
known British species by the almost equal tristichous leaves (the
third postical-stipule) with elongate cells. Not long bel'ore lie
died Dr. Spruce wrote: “ Ruminating instead of working, I have
turned over some ancient guesses of mine on the classification of
Hepaticæ, What think you,” for a change, “ of IsotacMs laxifolia
(Hook.), Hygrobiella (Spruce), pro parte ? There are the tristichous,
nearly transversely inserted leaves ; the elongated cells