Stems wholly procumbent, lying flat upon th e gro u n d , varying from one to th re e , or
sometimes four lines, in le n g th ; th e diameter thick in proportion to th e size o f the
p lan t, cylindrical, or somewhat compressed, waved, simple (f. 6) , beset with a single
ramulus (f. 7 ) , o r, more rarely, divided once o r twice in a dichotomous manner.
Leaves varying in numbe r, according to the size o f th e individual, about h a lf a line long,
closely placed, obliquely de current, hoiizontal, o f a squarish figure, much waved, but
scarcely plicate, th e extremity cu t into two, th re e , o r four irregular and obtuse notches,
forming segments, which are sometimes b lunt and sometimes acute. T h e ir color is a
pale green, with more o r less o f a yellowish brown tin g e as they approach the base of
the stem ; sometimes, according to Schmidel, pa rtak in g o f a reddish hue. The cellules
are roundish, approaching to ovate (f, 4).
There are neither perigonial nor perichætial leaves * to this species.
The M ale F r u c t if ic a t io n ( f. f, 3 . 4 ) is scattered about the up p e r surface o f the stem, and quite
exposed, both upon sterile and upon capsuliferous plants : Each
Anther is o f a spherical form, reticulated, o f a yellow color, term in a tin g a white, pellucid,
footstalk, which scarcely exceeds it in len g th (f. 5).
F em a l e F r u c t if ic a t io n orig in a tin g from the c en tre , o r towards the extremity o f the p la n t; but
I have never observed it to be exactly terminal, although Dr, Uoth considers tlia t to be its true
situation, and is o f opinion th a t, when it is la te ra l, it arises from an “ innovatio caulis."
Calyx produced singly, o r two o r thre e together, large, thre e -fourths o f a line in len g th ,
sometimes nearly equalling the whole size of the p lan t, campanulate, having a cleft in
the margin (f. 1 0 ), and the border vai'iously crenate and waved. At the base are five
min u te subulate stipuliform processes, which have been hith e rto unobserved by botanists,
b u t which I find very constant in all the individuals I have examined. Sometimes the
calyx is cu t in to three or four unequal segments, as is represented a t figure 9. In the
reticulation i t resembles the leaves, as well as in tex tu re , except th a t it is somewhat more
delicate. I ts color is, moreover, paler, and n o t unfrequently, according to th e acute
Schmidel, o f a reddish o r pinky cast.
Germen o f an obovate form : two or three a re sometimes contained in th e same calyx
(f. f. 9. 10. and 7).
Calyplra whitish, delicate, re ticula ted, te rm in a ted by a sh o rt style.
Peduncle scarcely twice th e len g th o f th e ealyx, of a silvery white, succulent, cellulose,
sometimes a little twisted (f. 10) .
Capsule exactly spherical, of a reddish brown color, and o f a thin, delicate, semipellucid
n a tu re , reticulated, having deep brown dots along th e margins o f the reticulations (f. 1 1 );
depa rting from the essential character o f th e g enus, inasmuch, as it bursts in a most
irreg u la r manne r f , to p e rmit th e discharge o f the seeds, as may be seen a t figures 10.
6, and 7-
» Yet Roth says of the fructification, that it is “ cincla basi fo liis quatuor laxis.”
t Schmidel, I ought in justice to observe, expressly says, “ valvje recentar dehiscentes oblongè ovatæ et acutas
iu n t, diu autem hanc formam non retinent, sed ob tcneiitatem ab apice marcescere et per partículas cadera incipiunt
and his fig. 17 represents the four entire valves : yet, in the specimens which have come under my own observation,
the capsules have, as shewn in the plate, burst irregularly.
Seeds spherical, numerous, of a rich brown color, rough, and with prominent points or
tubercles. The spiral filaments are sh o rt, composed of a double helix. A few o f them
remain, Schmidel says, a fte r th e dispersion of th e seeds, attached to the bottom o f the
capsule in the form o f a tu ft or pencil.
What th e “ semina” m a y b e , “ in racemos disposita per ramulorum longitudinem,'' figured
an d described by Micheli on this species, I am a t a loss to determine. The conjecture of Schmidel
is probably ju s t, th a t they are some parasitic fungus, and o f Mohr, th a t they may be some species
eith e r o f Monilia o r Bolrys. The curious bodies, which Schmidel himself has taken for the male
fructification of this species, have unhappily, a ltogether, escaped my n o tic e ; b ut his description is
worthy o f a ttention, and I shall offer no apology for the length o f the following extract, th o u g h I
cannot help expressing my regret a t being unable to throw any additional lig h t upon the subject:
“ In te r supremam pinnam,” be says, “ au t earn quæ incompleta est, aliquot aciculæ occurrere
soient absque involucro, sed plerumque aliquà calicis specie instruct! sunt. E x medio enim caule,
minutæ, tenerrimæ, vesiculares e t lætè virides su rg u n t lacinulæ, quæ globulorum latera modo
m uniunt, modb c ingunt, et plerumque cum globulis ipsis rursùs evaneseunt, uno alterove forte
diutiùs re stante . Superficies globulorum externa tuberculis incerti numeri, decem au t pluribus,
aliq u an tùm pellucidis iiiæqualis est, e t paries totus ex vesiculis minutissimis rotundis conllatur,
quas lens summè augens demùm detegit. Discissi globuli vesículas succum crocei coloris satis
copiosum includentes promunt, neque solidi quid, seminis alicujus genium au t formam monstrans
possident, adeoque eo respectu satis dec la rant, qubd o rgani masculini e t Antherarum vices expleant.”
I t will, however, a t once be seen th a t these supposed “ Organi masculini " are very different from
th e Anthers in th e annexed plate, which, in every respect, resemble those in other species o f the
genus, and differ in nothing from what are represented by Hedwig, except in color; and this,
probably, varies in different stages o f the ir existence.
With regard to the affinities of this species, I know of none to which it is a t all naturally a llied;
and, indeed, its e.xtremely delicate capsule, and the manner in which it bursts, are almost sufficient
to afford characters for its separation from the rest of th e genus, did n ot the habit o f the plant
forbid it. In the calyx, two remarkable peculiarities may be observed, in th e widely-expanded
m o u th , and the stipulaceous processes, or the bracteæ, as they m ig h t be called, a t th e base. The
s itua tion, too, o f the fructification is very curious, unaccompanied by perigonial or perichætial
leaves; and the whole p lan t diffuses an agreeable odor, n ot unlike th a t of the sweet sedge,
AcoTUS Calamus.
T h e crisped leaves of this plant suggested to Schmidel the idea th a t it resembled a le ttu c e ;
for he says, “ g reg a lim nascitur e t propiiis inspecta minutos lactucæ cæspites im ita tu r, quibus
e tia in Michelvus adsimilavit;” and Roth, considering th a t this appearance was peculiar to th e
young plants, observes, “ Planta pusilla, in jun io re ætate cæspitem minutulum, lætè viridem,
crispum e t, u t bene monet Michelius, lactucæ cæspiti æmulum représentât; provectiore ætate sese
magis extendunt frondes e t evolvuntur.”