The English flora - SeaweedAfrica

Marchantia.} H EPATICiE. 1 1
Besides the organs of fructification described above, I observe in the
surface of the frond, oval or elliptical, compactly granulated, dark green
bodies, similar to what have been detected in Jungermannia Blasia.
I have been surprised to find an increasing difficulty, as these investi-
gations proceeded, in discriminating between A. pitnetatus and //. Levis;
2 species adopted by all preceding authors. The common appearance
of the plant is characterized above : its extreme varieties have been described
as 2 species by other Botanists:—the larger kind, with the least
divided margin, is A. major, Sm. ; the smaller and more divided one is
A* puTtctalus, Sra. All, however, remark that the fructification is alike,
and both Smith and Weber assert that the 2 plants often grow intermixed.
The A. multifidusoi Dickson, can hardly, I think, belong to this
genus. Dillenius does not figure the fructification; nor does Mr. Dickson,
who is the authority for its being considered of British origin, take
any notice of it ; it is wholly omitted in E. Bot. ; and both the descrip-
tions of Dickson and Dill., and the figure of the latter, induce me to
refer it with little hesitation to Jung, multifield.
4. Targionia. Mich. Targionia.
Common receptacle of the fruit none ; Perianth globose, terminal,
arising- from the underside of the frond, 2-valved ; cap-
-
sule globose, included, opening irregularly and filled with seeds
and spiral filaments. (Muse. Brit. ed. '2. p. '218.)—Named in
honour of John Anthony Tarr/ioni, a Florentine Botanist.
1. T. hypophylla, Linn, (flat-leaved Targionia). Linn. Sp.
Pi. P . 1603. E. Bot. t. 287. Hooker, Fl. Scot. P. II. p. 119.
Muse, Brit. ed. 2. p. 218. Lindenb. Syn. Hi pat. p. 110.
Muse. t. 78. f 9.
—
—
Dill.
Banks, in rather moist but exposed situations, England ami Scotland ;
but not general. Fr. Apr. May. Fronds forming large patches, imbricated,
oblongo-obovate, plane, between coriaceous and fleshy,margins
entire, ver) deep green, purplish at the edges, not obviously reticulated,
but furnished with numerous oval pores on the upper surface; underneath
only is the appearance of a midrib, which is prominent and covered with
numerous obtuse radicles, on each side of which are many purple, trans-
\crsely oblong, membranous scales, as in Mirchantia. Inune Hatch beneath
the extremity, or the underside of the frond, is a Bolitarj perianth,
globose, of a deep purplish-black colour, and a texture between membranaceous
and coriaceous, marked with a vertical prominent line,
from which it becomes dehiscent, and consequently 2-valved. Within
this perianth art- seen, in an rally Btage, afr.v pistilliform bodies, one of
which becomes a Bphaerical qermen covered with a cafyptra which is
tipped with a rather long style i
thecalyptra bursts irregularly and verti-
cally. The Bpb&rical capsule is protruded beyond it; but never reaches
further than the perianth. Fruitstalk \n\ snort and succulent. I
rule dark brown, opening at the extremit} with several unequal segments,
and discharging innumerable brown seeds, mixed with short spiral
iiitnis, composed of a double helix.
."). M
Am ii \\ i i \. Mich. Maivhantia.
Common receptacle ot the fruit pedunculated, peltate, bearing
beneath shortly pedicellated prudent capsules, opening at the
extremity with about 8 teeth, and filled with seeds wd spiral