The English flora - SeaweedAfrica

104 HEPATiCiE. [Marchaniia.
among these radicles, and
entire length, with the usual fibrous radicles ;
almost concealed by them, arise, on each side of the midrib, a few membranaceous
oblique scales, which are more evident upon the young
shoots or innovations, where the roots are fewer and are there of a purple
hue : occasionally, scales of a similar nature, but greenish colour,
overlap the margin of the innovations at the extremity. These scales,
when seen in their more perfect state, appear to be unequally 2-lobed
at their anterior margins. Fructification, as far as 1 have observed,
constantly dioecious. Male receptacle entirely sessile, arising, apparently,
always from the midrib in various parts of its surface: in form and
structure resembling the two preceding species. Female receptacle pedunculated:
peduncle differing from that of other Marchanlice in being
remarkably succulent, as in Jungermannia epiphylla, becoming flat and
apparently membranaceous when dry, and having, so far as we can observe,
but one groove with one bundle of fibres ; this peduncle is inserted
in a concave disk, and is 2—4 inches long. The receptacle is conical,
inclining to ovate, obtuse at the summit, the margins deflexed and cut
into about six very short emarginate lobes; involucres green, 2-valved;
calyx quadrifid, and each seeming to contain but one ovate capsule,
which is partially exserted and cut into several revolute segments.
Seeds large, dark, olivaceous ; spiralfilaments double.—The bruised/roncte
are singularly fragrant, resembling Bergamot.
4. M. hemisph&rica, Linn, (hemispherical Marchantid); receptacle
of the capsules hemispherical cut at the margin into 4—10
equal lobes, that of the anthers pedunculated with a thin margin,
frond with large cells and pores. Linn. Sp. PL p. 1604.
E. Bot. t. 503 and*. 2545? (under M. commutata, Lindenb. Syn.
Hepat. jo. 101. M. androgyna, excl. the 2 lower Jigs.) Muse.
Brit. ed. 2. p. 222 M. androgyna, Linn.?—M. quadrata, Scop.
Cam. ed. 2. p. 63 Bebouillia hemisphcErica, Baddi, in Opuse.
Scient. di Bologna.—Dill. Muse. t. Ih.f. 2.
Sides of mountain-streams and moist banks, not uncommon. Fr.
Apr.— Fronds procumbent, imbricated, oblong, 1—3 inches long, rarelysimple,
generally forked, waved and crenate at the margin; texture between
carnose and membranaceous, inclining to the latter; colour dark
green above, frequently with a dark central line indicating the midrib,
underside often purple at the margin, midrib prominent, throwing out
numerous silky fibres, and on each side beset with purple scales, partially
concealed by the roots, sometimes the centre of the frond below
is purple; on the upper surface the cells are very distinctly marked, and,
as in M. polymorpha, furnished in the centre with a pore. Fructification
monoecious, as well as dioecious ; male receptacle with short pedicels
springing from the midrib in a sinus at the extremity of the frond
receptacle peltate, flat and papillose above, purplish, the margins somewhat
reflected, cut into 4, 8 or 9 rounded lobes. Anthers as in M. polymorpha.
Female receptacle with pedicels 2—4 inches long, hemisphae-
rical, cut at the margin into 4—10 or 11 obtuse, deflexed lobes,
covering as many membranaceous involucres, which are entire at the
margins ; calyces white, membranaceous, quadrifid, 2—3 in each invo-
lucre. Calyptra as in the preceding. Capsule scarcely protruded at
maturity, consequently on a very short fruit-stalk, dark brown, cut nearlyhalf-way
down into 7, 8 obtuse revolute segments, containing a great num-
;