/& . [ 4 ^ o ]
P H A S C U M ferratum.
Serrated Phafcum.
C R Y P T O G A M I A Mujci.
Ge n . Char. Capfule ovate, without any feparate lid.
Veil minute, deciduous.
S pec.' Char. Shoots capillary, jointed, branched.
Capfule furrounded with lanceolate lerrated leaves
riling above it.
Si n . Phafcum ferratum. Dickf. Crypt, fafc. i. t. i , ƒ i.
With. 785.
HIS minute vegetable, hardly vifible to the naked eye, was
firft difcovered in England by Mr. Dickfon, on the north fide
of Mufwell-hill near Highgate. Our fpecimens were gathered
in Cambridgefhire, by the Rev. Mr. Hemfted, in March laft.
It forms tufts of pellucid green jointed filaments, very much
refembling a Byjfus at firft fight, but, when highly magnified, as
in our figure, .afluming the appearance of a Confer-ua. From
the common origin of thefe filaments, near the crown of the
little root arife about four erect lanceolate reticulated and fer-
rated pellucid leaves, enveloping an almoft feftile ovate brown
capfule, tapering to a palifh point, but without any feparating
cover or lid. The veil, which Mr. Dickfon mentions not having
feen, is fmall, oblique and fharply pointed.
At page 330 ° f this work we have been led byLinnteus into
an error concerning the generic charader of Phafcum, which
is here corre£ted.