J f o ( 7l9 )
JUNGERMANNIA divaricata.
S p r e a d in g - le a v e d J u n g e rm a n n ia .
CR YPTOGAMIA Algce.
Gen. Char. Male flowers (effile.
Female on a foot-ftalk rifing from a (heath. Cap/.
with 4 valves. Seeds attached to elaftic filaments.
Spec. Char. Fronds, unbranched, (imply pinnate,
filiform, flowering at the end. Leaves alternate,
deeply cloven; their lobes divaricated, pointed.
Sheath toothed.
P ' .................................
J. OR this minute nondefcript Jungermannia we are indebted
to the Rev. Mr. Francis, who found it on Holt and Edgefield
heaths, Norfolk, intermixed with J. excifa, flowering from October
to March. Specimens of the fame are in the rich collection
of the late Rev. H. Bryant, now in the pofleflion of Mifs
Hancock of Norwich; but their name and characters were never
determined, the frudtification having been unknown till Mr.
Francis detected it in October 1798. From his accurate figure
and remarks we have afcertained the following, particulars.
The (hoots are Ample, (lender, about a quarter of an inch
long, when unfupported trailing and intricate, protruding roots
here and there, which fometimes fpring from the leaves them-
felves. The leaves are alternate, of 2 pointed entire lobes, which
in the older ones are remarkably divaricated. Male flowers in
folitary terminal round heads. Sheath on a feparaie (hoot, terminal,
folitary, ovate, minutely toothed. Stalk (lender, bearing
a minute oval capfule, burfting as ufual into four parts.
The colour of the plant in fhady fituations is deep green; in
expofed, du(ky purple. Sometimes its denfe tufts refemble fmall
fpecimens of Bryuni argenteum.