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JUNGERMANNIA GIGANTEA.
Jungermannia caule adscendente fastigiatim ramoso,
foliis bifariis disticiiis rotundato-quadratis denticulato-
ciliatis, calyce terminali oblong o , ore dilatato compresso
cibato, seta breviuscula. ( T a b . X C I I I .)
H a b . In sinu Dusky bay dicto, apud Novam Zeelandiam.
D . Menzies, 1 7 9 1 .
Caulis spithamæus ad dodrantalem, basi repens, demum erectus,
flexuosus, rigidus, niger, crassiusculus, sublignosus, ramosus,
ramis fastigiatis patentibus. Folia plerumque arcte imbricata,
bifaria, disticha, patentia, nigro-viridia, rotundato-quadrata,
denticulato-ciliata, margine inferne subintegerrimo. Sulstantia
reticulata, areolis parvis, rotundatis. Ferichætialia reli-
quorum similia, sed erecta, calyci appressa. Calyx terminalis,
bi-trilinearis, oblongus, basi cylindracea, apice valde compressa,
ore cibato. Seta calyce triplo longior. Capsula oblonga,
4-valvis, intense fusca.
Different as this species is in reality from the preceding one,
(J . ramosissima) yet I have found it very difficult to express this
difference clearly in words. The present plant is vastly more
stout and robust in all its parts, the stem very rigid and of a black
colour. The leaves larger, more horizontal in their direction, more
inclined to quadrate, more ciliated, and altogether of a much
darker hue. A greater point of distinction may be found in the
calyx, which is less urceolate, and in the capsule moreover, which
is oblong. The vastly larger size of the plant, repeatedly branched
stems, the shorter fruitstalk and more ciliated leaves, are the
principal marks which distinguish this from J . asplenioides,
Fig- L plant, nat. size. Fig. 2, leaves with a portion of the
stem. Fig. 3, terminal portion of a branch, with the perichætial
leaves, calyx, fruitstalk and capsule,—magn.