H E P A T I C A .
INTRODUCTION.
Habit.—Frequently growing in matted tufts, sometimes
straggling amongst mosses, or creeping over rooks, stones, or
trees. (With the description of each species particulars are given
of their varied habit.)
F lagella are the whip-like processes some genera bear; they
are either furnished with rootlets and minute rudimentary leaves
or are destitute of them.
Size.—The stems of the British Hepaticse vary from about
2 mm. to 5 or 6 inches in length. The following is an explanation
of the terms used to indicate their size :
“ Very long,” 3 to 6 inches.
“ Large,” about 3 inches.
“ Largish,” about 2 inches.
“ Medium,” about 1 to inch.
“ Small,” J to 1 inch.
“ Minute,” -g- of an inch to 2 mm. to 3 mm.
Colour.—Commonly pale or yellowish to dark green, but
some varying from silvery white to black, others red or purple.
Stem.—The Hepaticse may he grouped in two divisions, the
frondose and the foliose; but in certain genera both occur, which
show that this division is more or less artificial; yet in the study
of our British species it is a useful distinction.
The frondose group comprise those genera which have a
flattened frond without any distinct stem, stem confused with
the lamina, or stem with wings or lamina on either side; they
are usually prostrate.