Eur. p. 360. Jungermannia polyanthus, var.
Lindenb. Hep. Eur. 30.
Growing in loose straggling patches, easily detached.
Stems procumbent, or only ascending at
the tips, thread-like, flexuous, i to 2 inches long,
simple or irregularly branched, frequently innovant.
Leaves closely, and alternately in two rows, somewhat
imbricate at the margins, horizontal (fig. 1 10),
decreasing in size from the middle towards the
base, as well as the extremity, nearly quadrate,
angles obtuse, surface plane, or slightly convex,
base decurrent at the lower
margin, extremity entire in
most instances, often emarginate,
especially on the innovations,
notch varying from
obtuse to acute, pale green.
Stipules narrowly lanceolate,
divided nearly to the base
into two entire subulate segments
(fig. 109). Perichætial
leaves small, ovate, obtuse,
unequally serrate at the margin,
a few of these resembling
109. no.
scales at the base of the calyx. Calyx very short,
scarce half so long as the calyptra, cylindrical at
the base, compressed above, widely ovate, truncate,
split into two lips, each of which laciniate at the
margin, clefts unequal. Calyptra oblong-ovate,
white, twice as long as the calyx. Capsule ovate,
brown, furrowed. Elaters bispiral.
G en u s 23. PLAGIOCHILA, Dumort.
Involucre diphyl lous , somewha t conforming
to the leaves, but large r ; leaves simple,
f lat tened; perianth compres sed at the sides,
flattened, mouth oblique, truncate, dentate,
or ciliate, somewha t lipped, hence s p l i t ; capsule
four-valved, coriaceous, decussate, naked;
elaters geminate, naked, deciduous.— Dumort.
Hep. /. I , / 1 1 .
Leaves dimidiate, not conduplicate, nor auriculate,
without a dorsal lobule.
Fructification terminal, or from the growth of
innovations axillary. Autoicous or dioicous.
Perianth laterally compressed, erect, or decurved
at the apex; mouth obliquely truncate, bilabiate,
entire, or ciliate. Involucral bracts two, erect.
Pistillidia numerous. Capsule thick, four-valved.
Elaters bispiral. Andraecium spiral. Perigonial
leaves smaller, closely imbricate in two rows.
Primary shoots leafless, creeping, with rootlets.
Leaves succubous, distichous, or subsecund, dorsal
margin decurrent, entire, ventral arcuate, entire, or
cut. Amphigastria inconspicuous.— Carr. Br.
Hep. g i.
Plagiochila asplenioides, Vailt., Dum.
Stem ascending, branched ; vert ical leaves
subcurrent, rounded-ovate, convex, s light ly
recurved, dentate ; perichaetial leaves revolute