2874.
JUNGERMANNIA Ralfsii.
Ralfs's Jungermannin.
CRYPTOGAMIA Hepaticee.
Gen. Char. Common receptacle of the fruit none.
Perianth or Calyx monophyllous, tubular (rarely
absent). Capsule 4-valved, terminating a peduncle
which is longer than the perianth.
Spec. Char. Frond procumbent, broadly obovate,
forked, lamellated, the midrib prominent beneath.
Fruit from the upper surface of the
frond. Calyx funnel-shaped, very broad, toothed.
Calyptra shorter than the calyx. Capsule spherical,
bursting irregularly. Seeds reticulated.
Syn. Diplokena Lyellii, Nees von Esenb. v. 3. 352.
A t the time when the writer of this article described
J. hibernica, t. 2750, the species here given was unknown
to him, though he had gathered it in a barren state, growing
in company with J. hibernica. With that species it has
therefore been confounded, and the remarks as to the obovate
lamellated fronds, together with ƒ. 16 on that plate,
must be refered to this place. Mr. Ralfs was so fortunate
as to find the plant in fruit at Hoyle Sands, near Penzance,
in April last; and as a just tribute to his perseverance
and acuteness, we have named the species after him. Mr.
Curnow of Penzance has kindly supplied us with recent
specimens from the same place.
The fronds are dioecious, growing close to the ground,
with spreading, obovate, forked divisions, sometimes simply
obovate, flattish, beset on the upper side with erect lamel