P la n t s ile n se ly im b r ic a t e d , so a s to fo rm w id e b u t c om p re s s e d tu f t s , o r c u s h io n - lik e p a tc h e s .
Roots proceeding rarely from the lower side o f the stem, more frequently from th e leaves,
always in small pencil-like tufts, consisting of pellucid, simple fibres (f. 3 ).
Stems, o r Sarculi, from an inch and a ha lf to two inches o r more in len g th , creeping,
flexuose, variously branched, the branches again divided in a pinnated man n e r, and here
and there producing innovations. Color green.
Leaves closely imbricated over th e upper surface o f th e stem, and in a bifarious manner,
unequally two-lobed, th e superior lobe much th e la rg e st, orbicular, nearly flat upon th e
up p e r side (in |3 convex) ; the inferior lobe ovate, appressed, flat, and often shooting
fo rth roots. T h e coZor is a very pale yellow-green; in /3 alone yellow-brown. The
substance is delicate and flaccid; the reticulation small and obscure (f, 18).
Perigonial leaves (f. 5) similar to the rest, b ut more ventricose a t th e base, where th e
Anthers a re situated.
Perichælial leaves also b u t little differing from th e cauline ones, except in having the two
lobes more equal in size (f. f. 8, 9).
Stipules none.
M ale F r u c t if ic a t io n s itua ted in th e axillæ of young lateral shoots (f. f. 2 , 4 ) .
Anthers two o r three in the axilla o f each leaf, globose, re ticula ted, yellowish, supported
on cellular, whitish, sh o rt footstalks (f. f. 6. 7 ).
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 b r a n c h e s , a n d o n th e la t e r a l sh o o ts ( f. 2 ) .
Calyx oblong, from a cylindrical base becoming wider, compressed, and a t the extremity
quite flat, incurved before the p u ttin g forth o f th e c apsule ; th e apex trunc a te , nearly
entire , or only a little cleft on one side. (In a very young s ta te (f. 9) the calyx is shorter
and wider than th a t ju s t described (f. f. 1 1 - 12) , b u t still very much compressed.)
Pistilla five to seven in each calyx, oblong, slightly swelling towards th e base, a t the
m outh expanded and toothed, o r radiated (f. 12) , of a pale and almost white color, faintly
s tria ted transversely and longitudinally.
Calyptra pyriform, whitish, pellucid, reticulated, tipped with a short style.
Peduncle not more than twice th e len g th o f the calyx, white , succulent, cellulose.
Capsule o v a te , p a le b r o w n , tr a n s v e r s e ly a n d lo n g itu d in a l ly f u rr ow e d ( f . 1 3 ) .
Seeds ra th e r la rg e , sphærical, brown, as well as the spiral filaments, which are formed of a
double helix.
Gemma a re attached to th e margins o f the leaves in th e spring months (f. f. 9. 15), and are
o f various sizes, o f a roundish or ovate figure (f. 16) , compressed, evidently reticulated,
so as to resemble in texture th e leaves.
Jungermannia complanata is a species b u t little sub je c t to variation, nor have I seen any
appearance o f it sufficiently unlike the common to be worth mentioning, except th e small brown
one found on rocks in Ireland, by Miss Hutchins, and described above, and represented a t f. 17.
Although, in general h abit, evidently allied to th a t beautiful family to which J . Tamarisci,
J . diZaiaia, J . p latyphy lla, &c,, belong, th e p lan t before us is, nevertheless, abundantly distinguished
from th em by a tota l want of stipules j o f which p a rt Dr. R o th ha s, notwithstanding, maintained
th e presence, end has given a pa rticu la r description of th em ; his words on the sub je c t arc,
" Quamvis Pollich, Scopoli, e t Weber stipularum præseutiam u egeut, tamen revera adsunt a t atgrtus
e t caule luci obverso sub len te bene an gente ritb ta n tbm distingueuda). Ad la te ra scilicet caulis
nervi intra folia tlensissimb imbricate eg rcd iu n tu r in eversh p a g in i foltisque ad p nm u n tn r stru c tu ra
et figura cum illis exaelb convenientes, l i e d duplo minores from a ll which, it appears th a t he has
tak en th e smaller lobe o f th e le a f for stipules. _
T h e circumstance o f roots proceeding from th e leaves is highly curious, and Wahlenberg,
I believe, was the first to observe it. We know th a t th e leave, o f some mosses (Hookerc
lucens Cot example) have th e prope rty o t th row in g o u t roots, b u t iu them it takes place a t
o t the leaves ; Here from th e surface o r pagina, and generally from th a t p a rt which fo rm ,
th e fold between th e smaller and th e la rg e r lobe. I have reason to th in k th a t X d.iutul« and
J , ruuiurieci possess th e same property, and th a t th e sm a ll s p h e ru le s I have figured on th e tern
an d leaves o t th e form e r o t these species (tab. 5 ) , a r e th e y o u n g roots ; and th e m o te so since I
have seen th e following rema rk o f Wahlenberg: Alluding to th e leaves o f J . e .m p to e f a , he say
■'In ejus pagink inferiore versus oram inferiorem papillu protuberat, p rim um viridis, dem fuscescens
e t observation. They have th e most complete analogy with
th e Gemmte o f th e Marchanliu. and with those o f J .fu r c u lu , b e ing, like them , evidently cellular j
Z they are seen to Increase in size before they are detached from th e p lan t. T o ta lly different are
they in th e ir nature from th e Gemmæ o t J . bienspiiata, J . ventrieosa, &e.
In point o t calyces, J . complanata resembles J . undulata, which, notwithstanding the differen
mode o f grow th and h ab it, as i t appears a t first sig h t, ou g h t, perhaps, to ra n k in th e same family
with th a t species. T h e re is this s trik in g difference between them th a t in
th e lobules cover the up p e r o r anterior surface of the stem, in X oamplanala the lower. Such
th e case, too, in X cochleariformis, where th e lobule is, however, formed in to a kind o f sack.