Capsule ovate, da rk brown, sp littin g in to four equal valves.
Seeds an d spiral Jilaments fulvous, the la tte r composed o f a double helix, a ttenua ted a t each
extremity.
I t is not easy, in a specific character, to define th e differences which will keep this plant
separate from J . excisa. I n the fructification, and in th e form and size o f many o f th e leaves, they
seem perfectly to a c co rd ; b ut in all th e specimens I have examined, both from Ireland and the
New Fore st, th e upper leaves o f J . capitata are collected in to a tu ft or head, which gives th e p lan t
a very rema rkable appearance ; these terminal leaves, too, and most o f those n o t inserted near the
base o f th e p lan t, are either trifid o r quadrifid, and th e segments a re very irregula r j b u t, what is
more s trik in g , th e texture of th e leaves is delicate, fragile, and composed o f cellules as la rg e as
those o f J . hicuspidata. In this pa rticu la r i t differs essentially from J . incisa, which has similar
tu fts o f leaves a t the extremity o f the shoots j b u t they are never, in o u r p lan t, toothed or jagged
at th e margins o f th e segments.
R E F E R E N C E S T O T H E P L A T E .
FIG.
1. Sterile plants o f J . capitata, natural size.
Female p lant, natural size.
Sterile p la n t, m a g n ifie d ..................................................... <S
Cauline le a v e s ............................................................................................................................. 3
Cauline lea f, skewing the c e llu le s ...................................................................................... 3
Terminal leaves ........................................................................................................................ 3
P erichatial le a f ........................................................................................................................ 3
PeTichalial leaf, with pistilla appearing before the fo rm a tio n o f the c a ly r . . . . 3