M z SPHi EROCARPUS terreftris.
Reticulated Spheerocarpus.
C R T P T O G A M I A Alga.
G e n . C h a r . Cal. v e n tric o le , u n d iv id e d . Seeds v e ry
n um e ro u s , c o lle c te d in to a g lo b e .
S p e c . C h a r ....................
Syn. S p h a sro c a rp u s te rr e f tr is , m in im a . Mich- Gen. 4 .
t. 3. D ill. Mufc. 536. t. 78. ƒ. 17.
T a r g io n ia Ip h a sro c a rp u s . Dickf. Fafc. 1.8.
Rot. Arr. V. 3. 157.
m w E? VEiD- by, the Rev- Mr-Mr. Woodward, in clover, turnep, an dB roPthVer Mfierld.s Cinro Nwoer, foalnkd
covering the earth copioufly in the moift winter months particularly
on ftrong land. A certain glaucous hue diftinguifhes
it at nrft fight to thofe who have feen it once, though its mi-
nutenefs and figure may have occafioned its remaining fo long
undiscovered, from its refemblance to a fmall Bryum without
fructification. Even Dillenius never found this plant, but has
taken it up on Micheli’s authority.
The whole habit is very delicate and membranous, of a pale
glaucous green. Fronds in clufters, nearly horizontal, attached
to the ground by Ihort radicles, oblong, waved, their difk covered
with tufts of the fructification. Calyx of an inverted
pear-lhape, like a little bottle or vinegar cruet, ereCt, pellucid,
of a finely reticulated ftruaure ; its orifice contracted and a
little notched. Seeds forming a globe in the bottom of the
calyx, clothed with a fine tranfparent fkin, and, as Micheli ob-
ferves, not intermixed with any fibres.
Mr. Dickfon firlt made this plant known to the Englifh bo-
tanift, and reduced it to the genus of Targionia. We are very
loath to difient from our great Cryptogamift, but on mature
deliberation think it fafeft to retain Micheli’s original genus,
the eflential character being fo very clear, and the habit fo
totally diftinCt from the true Targionia (fee our t. 287), which
is of the fame natural tribe as Marchantia; whereas Sphxro-
carpuS' is clofely allied to Blafia in habit, and not far remote in
generic character. As to the name, we retain it on the ground
of originality, though writers on Fungi have applied it to fome
genus of their own, and Gmelin in his heedlefs compilations
has called a plant in Monandria Spharocarpus. It is belt never
to apply any old name (though laid afide) to a new genus;
but the found principles of nomenclature have of late been too
mu<$i flighted.