i*.
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are frequently seen, which th u s form a la rg e terminal lobe : and th a t, in othe r leaves,
are formed smaller lobes o r projections, as well acute as obtuse, which give to the
ma rgins a very jagged appearance. The substance is ra th e r th in , and delicate, yet o f such a
n a tu re as to dry very badly, shrinking considerably, and requiring a g re a t len g th o f time
to recover after immersion in wa te r : th e cellules a re moderately large, ovate ; th e color
green, vaiying from a p ale to a deeper hue.
T h e perigonial leaves a re generally la rg e r than th e rest, and equally variable in figure w ith
them, always situated a t the extremity o f th e stem, by no means closely imbricated,
nor have they th e base (as is usual in th e gen u s), particula rly ventricose, nor th e apex
incurved, b u t ra th e r expanded, so th a t th e Anthers are always exposed.
Perichætial leaves six o r seven in num b e r, and, as fa r as I have ye t had th e opportu
n ity o f observing, while enclosing th e Germen, closely placed and imbricated, so as
to form a cone (f. 9) ; in this state, too, th e ir figure is very ne a rly oblongo-ovate, without
any marginal incision or projection, concave. In a more advanced s ta te o f th e fructification,
they are n ot to be distinguished, except by th e ir situa tion, from tlie cauline leaves,
which they moreover exactly resemble in color and texture.
M a le F r u c t if ic .at io n in th e axillæ o f the perigonial leaves, where the
Anthers a re placed in clusters o f five o r six to g e th e r: each is nearly spherical, faintly
reticulated, o f a yellowish color, inc lining to orange, when arrived a t its full size. The
fo o ts ta lk is short and cellulose.
F em a l e F r u c t if ic a t io n t e rm in a l u p o n th e s tem s o r b r a n c h e s .
Calyx none!
Germen (f. 9) obovate, gre en, tipped with a tubula r style, and surrounded a t th e base by a
few abortive p istilla, which are line a r, o r only slightly swollen a t th e base, and a t the
apex, under a hig h magnifying power, are seen to have an expanded and hollow mouth.
Cahjptra quite exposed, so as to resemble, a t first sig h t, a calyx ; as th e main bran ch o f
th e root below, so does this a t th e u ppe r extremity, appear to be a continuation of the
stem (f. f. 7- S). I t is o f an o blong o r lineari-oblong figure ; a t th e extremity, however,
it is generally a little inc ra ssa ted; its base is o f the same diameter as the stem, w ith
which i t likewise accords in its thick tex tu re , as well as in color, only th a t i t is
somewhat paler. T h e style, o r th e rudiment o f it, is a t all times appa rent, and ju s t
within the perichætial leaves, even d u rin g th e sta te of th e ripe capsule, a few o f th e
pistilla may be seen. A t th e apex, th e calyptra opens with a vertical, b u t irregula r
fissure, fo r th e emission o f the capsule.
Peduncle about h a lf an inch in len g th , white, filiform, succulent, terminated by th e
Capsule; this is o f a lineari-oblong figure, pale brown color, and reticulated s tru c tu re ,
ratlier delicate, subpellucid. I t opens, for the most p a r t, in to four equal line a r valves,
which often cohere a t th e extrem ity, in consequence, as i t appears to me, o f the
entanglement o f th e filaments. Sometimes five valves are seen, and more th an once
Mr. Lyell has observed an appearance o f only two valves, and these were held toge the r
a t the ir apices, so as to form th e exact figure of th e periphery o f an ellipse.
Seeds (f. 12) disposed within the capsule in threes, and enveloped in a tran sp a ren t pellicle,
th ro u g h which they are distinctly seen, in an imma ture s ta te , to be of a green color;
when more advanced (f. 13) they become brown, and the pellucid covering is not
apparent, though they very g enerally hang to ge the r (if I may so express my.self ) in threes.
L ike th e seeds, the sp ira l filaments are in a young s ta te green, and enclosed in a th in
w hite membrane (f. 12), which in the ir perfect s ta te is lost. They are formed o f a single
helix, a ttenua ted a t each extremity, and, as in most o f the frondose species, are attached
to th e extremity o f th e valves in pencil-shaped tufts.
Perhaps, th e re is n ot to h e found, in th e w hole g enus o f Junge rmannia , a species m ore decidedly
m a rk ed , bo th in its fructification and its foliage, th an th a t represented on the annexed plate. I t U
o n e o t the many inte re stin g discoveries made by Mr. Lyell, who kindly proposed th a t it should bear
th e name un d e r which it has been already described in Eiiglisli Botany.
T h e most remarkable fe a ture in this p lan t, ( it I may be allowed such an expression, where
every tiring is so s tran g e ,) is th e absence of a calyx, and th e prominent fleshy calyptra, which, by
a casual observer, m ig h t be tak en tor a calyx. T h e horizontal, thick, and fleshy fibres o f the root,
seem rather to belong to some phænogamous plant, than to th e genus Jun g e rm an n ia , almost afi th e
species of which a re furnished w ith remarkably slender, simple, and descending radicles. T h e multifii-
rious insertion o t th e leaves is o t rare o ccurrence in the present tribe o f plants. Indeed, I am only
acquainted with two species o f B riü sh o rigin which have this peculiarity in common w ith it,
J setacea and Itich o p h y lla , b u t in every o th e r respect, these plants a rc widely different ; the
individuals now mentioned having setaceous leaves, while those o f J . Haakeri are broad and
suhovate, or ligu la te , v a .y iu g most remarkably in size, and in th e shape and situation o t th e lobes
and crenatures, with which th e ma rg in is generally furnished. Most o f th e Jungermanniæ are
we ll k n own to possess the prope rty o t b e in g easily restored to a fresh and vigorous appearance,, after
b e in g dried for a considerable len g th o f tim e i b u t th e present species is a s trik in g exception even to
th is ru le , since, a fte r ever so long an immersion in wa te r, it very imperfectly recovers ¡ts original
" 7 n th e color o f the Anthers, and in th e ir exposed situation, a simila rity may be traced between
th em and th e Anthers o t J . pusilla. B u t th e female fructification is totally different, and, m th e
form o f th e capsule and th e situation o f th e spiral filaments, the re is a close analogy wito
J . pinguis ami muUifida, between which, and th e Jun g e rm a n n i! fo lio s ! , J . Hooker, may be
e o n sid em l as holding th e middle rank. T h e cohering o f th e apices o f th e valves o f the c o p / e ,
which Mr. Lyell has remarked to be an equally common occurrence in th e spec.mens he finds at
Kinnotdy, as in those from tlie New Forest, is not confined to this species : it also happens with
th e capsule o f J . Lyeilii. Bot in no o th e r ind iiid u a l have I yet observed th e seeds to be disposed m
threes, within a pellucid co v e rin g ; th o n g h , i t is n o t impossible th a t such a circumstance .nay
have escaped my notice, th ro u g h neglect o t examining th e capsules m an im m a ture sta te , when
-•this appearance is most evident.