The English flora - SeaweedAfrica

HEPATIC^.
Ord. III. HEPATICLE. Juss. Liverworts.
Fructification generally of two kinds; 1st. Capsules, in an
early stage covered with a calyptra, which is tipped with an
apparent style, often surrounded by a perianth or calyx, at
length bursting the calyptra irregularly and rising on a pedun-
cle, and opening at the extremity with 2 or 4, or many valves,
destitute of operculum, bearing within numerous seeds, mixed
(except in Riccia and perhaps Sphccrocarpus) with spiral filaments:
2dly, oblong or mostly rounded and frequently shortly
pedunculated reticulated bodies, {Anthers?) containing a very
minutely granulated substance, which escapes by an aperture
formed at the extremity.—Minute plants, frequently frondose,
sometimes, in Jungermannia for instance, leaf-bearing; the leaves
often divided, never really nerved. From various parts of the
fronds or leaves, gemma? are produced in many instances. Their
substance is loosely cellular, in general, easily reviving, after
being dried, by the application of moisture. Sometimes the
areolae of the cells have an evident pore, as in Marchantia and
Targionia, and then the plants, after being once dried, are found
to revive very slowly.
Synopsis of the Genera.
1. Riccia. Capsule sphaerical, immersed in the frond, imlehiscent,
crowned with a style which alone is protruded
2. Spieerocarpus. Capsule spherical, surrounded
ODOVate perianth (?) which is open at the summit.
by an
3. Antiioi BROS. ('s/tlr pedunculated,
haying a central columella to which the seeds
linear. L'-valved,
air attached, and
arising from a tubular /» riaitth.
4. Taroi6nia. Common receptacle of the fruit none ; peri-
anth globose, terminal, arising from the underside of the frond,
2-yalved; capsule globose, included, opening irregularly, and
filled with seeds and tpiraljilamente,
.,. Marchantia. Common receptacle of the fruit peduncu*
lated, peltate, bearing beneath shortl) pedicellated P«n