P la n t g e n e r a lly g r o w in g in r a th e r lo o s e a n d s t r a g g l in g p a tc h e s , e a s ily d e ta c h e d f rom its n a tiv e so il.
Roots moi'c o r less a b u n d an t u pon different individuals, issuing in small tu fts from th e under
side o f the
Stems, whicli are eitlier wholly procumbent, o r a t tlie apices only inclined to be ascendant,
filiform, flexuose, from one to two inches, o r more, in len g th , simple, o r once o r twice
irregula rly branched; frequently, also, producing innovations, which, a t an advanced
period, are scarcely to be distinguished from th e branches themselves.
Leaves ra th e r closely, b u t s till alternatelyi placed in two rows, somewhat im b ric a tin g each
o th e r with th e ir margins, horizonta l in th e ir direction, about lia lf a line in length, b u t
decreasing in size from the middle towards the base, as well as towards th e ex trem ity ; o f
a nearly quadra te figure, with th e angles o b tuse ; th e ir surface is plane, or b u t slightly
convex; the base decurrent a t th e lowe r m a rg in ; th e extrem ity en tire in most instances,
thougli often emarginate, especially upon the innovations, th e notch varying from obtuse
to acute. Once o r twice I have observed a le a f to have two o f these notches, th u s forming
a trifid leaf, which, indeed, may have arisen from an accident. T h e texture is delicate ;
th e cellules o f a roundish fo rm : th e color, for th e most p a rt, a pale gre en, varying
in intensity, in sheltered and exposed situations.
Stipules (f. 5) o f a narrow lanceolate form, divided nearly down to th e base, into two entire,
subula te , s tra it segments. Under a microscope they exhibit the common) re ticula ted
appearance o f th e leaves, which they fu rth e r resemble in th e ir color.
Perigonial leaves mostly s itua ted a t th e extremity o f the p lan t, e ig h t or ten , o r more, in
num b e r, resembling th e cauline ones in every thing, except in having th e ir base swollen
for th e re ception o f th e Anthers (f. 8).
Pericheetial leaves ( f f. 9. 10) very small, ovate, ob tu se , unequally serrated a t th e ir
ma rgins : a few o f these, ra th e r resembling scales th an leaves, surround the base o f th e
calyx, and a re only seen upon th e p ro p e r calycine stalk.
M ale F e u c t if ic .a t io n in th e a x illæ o f th e p e r ig o n i a l le av e s .
T h e AniAers are spherical, reticulated, o f a pale gre enish or olive coior, s itua ted upon short
whitish footstalks.
F em a l e F r u c t if ic a t io n upo n sh o rt proper footstalks, resembling small ramuli, which origina te
from th e umler side o f th e p lan t, and, from a b en t o r curved base, become erect.
Calyx very short, scarcely ha lf so lo n g as th e c a ly p tra ; a t th e base cylindrical, compressed
towards th e extremity, widely ovate, tru n c a te , split into two lips, each o f which is
variously c u t and laciniated a t the m a rg in : th e clefts, it may be observed, a re unequal ;
th a t on one side extending to about thre e -fo u rth s o f th e len g th o f th e calyx, while the
opposite one is scarcely h a lf so deep (f. f. 9. 10).
Calyptra (f. 9) exserted, twice th e len g th o f th e calyx, oblongo-obovate, w h ite , membranaceous,
semi-pellucid, reticula ted, tipped a t th e extremity with the short tu b u la r style.
Peduncle scarcely an inch in len g th , w hite , cellular.
Capsule ovate, approaching to orbicular, o f a brown color, ma rked w ith longitudinal and
transverse furrows.
Seeds (f. 11) spherical: both they and th e spiral Jilaments, which are composed o f a
double helix, are o f a fulvous color.
preserved in Mr. T u rn e r’s H e rba rium , prove th e J . scalaris o f his S y st. Samml. to be th e same as tlie
one here represented, b u t still I d a re n o t venture to quote Hoffmann and R oth's plants without
considerable doubt. I t seems possible th a t th e former may be our J . Trichomanis, b u t th e re is no
mention made of th e fru c tific a tio n ; and th e calyx o f J . scalaris; as described by Dr. Rotli, appears
ra th e r to accord w ith J . crenulata, which th a t w rite r probably confounded with it. No author,
whatever, ha s remarked th e stipules.
J . scalaris is represented in English Botany un d e r the name o f lanceolata; b u t th e unmagnified
figures a re tak en from unusually lu x u ria n t specimens, an d are much la rg e r th a n any individuals
th a t have fallen unde r my own observation.
FIG.
1 .
R E F E R E N C E S T O T H E P L A T E .
J . scalaris, male p la n t, natural size.
Female p la n t, natural size.
Barren shoot.
Male p la n t, magnified.............................................................................................................. ®
Perigonial le a f and A n th e r s .................................................................................................. ^
A n th e r ...................................................................... ^
Barren shoot, with erect le a v e s .......................................................................................... ®
Var. with emarginate le a v e s ............................................................................................... ®
View o f the underside o f ihe stem, skewing ihe s tip u le s .......................................... 6
Female p l a n t ............................................................................................................................... ^
Calyx and ............................................................................................................ ^
S t ip u le ........................................................................................................................................... ^
14. Calyx and perichcetium longitudinally o p e n e d ..................................................... 3
Capsule, afte r the discharge o f the s e e d s ....................................................................... ^
Seeds and spiral fi la m e n t s ...................................... ^
L e a f, with its parasitic F u n g u s..........................................................................................
The Fungus detached from the l e a f ................................................................................... ^
The same, b u r s t .......................................................................................................................