Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 14.djvu/743

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L I V L I V 719 II. Asexual Germs. Beyond the true fructification, in the majority of Ifepaticx, certain bodies are met with, which are known as gemma?, but which differ from each other in complexity and significance. (1) In some Marchantix basket-like or crescentic re ceptacles are found, containing lenticular bodies, which, under favourable conditions, will produce new fronds. (2) On the borders of the leaves, especially near the apex of the shoots, prolification from the ordinary cellular tissue is met with in most Ilepaticee, in the form of detached cells or tufts of such cells. These are generally described as gemmae, but resemble more closely the gonidia of lichens, and probably aid in the diffusion of dioecious species, which from the absence of $ or $ plants would otherwise become extinct. (3) Another process has been ascribed to gemmation, but has been more happily named by Dr A. Braun rejuvenescence ( Verjungung}. In decayed or apparently withered fronds, certain cells, after a period of rest, assume new activity and multiply so as to give rise to new individuals (Anthoceros, Riccia, &c.). Distinction between Hepaticas and MuscL There is scarcely a character in the definition of Hepaticas which might not refer to some genus of mosses, although the definition as a whole may be sufficiently distinctive, and practically there is no difficulty in dis tinguishing one from the other. In Musci the urn-case or capsule generally opens by means of a lid, and the mouth is surrounded by a peristome divided into four, eight, or more teeth. A columella is nearly always present, and the spores ripen iii a sac between the former and the walls of the capsule. From the early elongation of the fruit rudiment, the calyptra is ruptured at an earlier stage, the upper part investing the urn-case like a cap, during the development of the spores ; the lower remnant remains at the base of the seta (which, as well as the cap sule, is composed of more ligneous texture than in Hepaticse) as the vaginula. The spore gives rise to a confervoid prothallus often ex tensively branched, and from this the leaf-buds arise. The leaves are imbricated on all sides of the stem, and the phyllotaxis is usually , |, or |. The leaves are frequently strengthened by a midrib, and the rootlets are divided by numerous septa. Habitat. The Hepaticst are cosmopolitan in range, and form a relatively important average of the alpine vegetation, being abund ant in moist equable and insular places, e.g., Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand. They are also met with in more tropical zones, such as South America, India, Java, and the West Indies. Classification. I. Marcliantiacese. Fronds thalloid, prostrate, furcate ; epider mis pierced with curious stomata ; inner section areolate, occupied by green gonidial cells, lower surface simply cellular, emitting long rootlets, papillose within. (a] Marchantiese. Capsules aggregate on a stalked receptacle: e.g. , Marchantia, Asterclla, Fegatella, Dumortiera, Lunu- laria, &c. (5) Taryionicw. Antheridia immersed ; involucre like a split pea ; capsule nearly sessile, below the apex. (c) Riccicse. Antheridia and pistillidia immersed, the latter emitting the spores by the decay of the walls ; spores with out elate rs: e.g., Riccia, Eicciella, &c. II. Juiigermanniacese. Capsule solitary terminal on the primary shoots or on short lateral ones, splitting into four valves.

  • Foliosse.

(a) Leaves succubous: e.g., Jungermannia, Scapania, LopJw- colca, &c. (b) Leaves incubous: e.g., Lijennia, Frullania, Schisma, Lepi- dozia, &c.

  • * Frondosas: e.g., Pellia, Blasia, Petalophyllum, &c.

III. A nthoccroteee. Capsule horn or pod-like, opening by one or two valves, columella central, spores intermingled with deformed elaters: e.g., Anthoceros, Monoclsea. Uses. At the present time the Hcpatic.se are of little practical use to man. In the dark ages of medicine, when the doctrine of "signatures" was in fashion, the strongly-marked epidermic cells were supposed to resemble the structure of the liver, and the species were esteemed "a sovran remedy " in liver complaints. The Hc- paticafontana (Marchantia polymorpha] of Casper Bauhine, "which grows near springs, wells, and watery places, very lowe, almost like a moss, and puts out flowers about June, not unlike stars," is wonder fully commended by Schroder, in those disorders of the liver which arise from too much heat (English Dispensary, 1733). A few species possess a pungent, bitter taste (Porella) resembling that of Sedum acre. Many also evolve a musky odour, observable in the woods and fields after rain, and incorrectly referred to the smell of moist earth. Beyond the beauty of tint and outline, which light up many a dreary ravine, they supply abundant material for the microscope, enabling us by the translucency of tissue, and their easy preserva tion, so long as moisture is supplied, to study cell and leaf-struc ture, and the wonders of reproduction, as no other class will do. Lastly, many fern-growers have of late included the Hepaticss and Musci in their lists of favourites, the variety adding immeasurably to the interest of their collections. Most of the species are readily cultivated in a cold frame or fernery, the atmosphere of which must be kept moist and equable. In the renowned ferneries of Mr Backhouse of York, A. Stansfield of Todmorden, and the Glasnevin Gardens, Dublin, species have long been cultivated, many foreign to the climate, and introduced with foreign plants. (B. C.) LIVINGSTON, EDWARD (1764-1836), American jurist and statesman, was born in Clermont, Columbia county, New York, May 26, 1764. He was a great-grandson of Robert Livingston, the first possessor under royal patent of " Livingston Manor," a tract of land on the Hudson, comprising the greater part of the present counties of Dutchess and Columbia. Having graduated at Princeton in 1781, he began to practise law in New York city, and rapidly rose to distinction as an advocate. He was a member of congress during 1794-98, and in 1801 was appointed United States district attorney for the State of New York, and while retaining that position was also elected mayor of New York city, then an office of high dignity and emolument. In the summer of 1803 New York was visited with a violent epidemic of yellow fever, during which Livingston displayed great courage and energy in his endeavours to prevent the spread of the disease, and to relieve the widespread distress. He suffered an attack of the fever in its most violent form, during which the people of the city gave many proofs of their attachment and anxiety. He recovered to find his private- affairs, which he had neglected, in some confusion, and he was at the same time deeply indebted to the Government for public funds which had been lost through the mismanagement of a confidential clerk. Livingston at once surrendered all his property, and, having resigned his offices, removed to Louisfana, which had then just been ceded by France to the United States. He soon acquired a large law practice in New Orleans, and repaid the Government in full. Almost immediately upon his arrival in Louisiana he was appointed by the legislature to prepare a provisional code of judicial procedure, which was continued in force from 1805 to 1825. During the short war with England in 1814-15, Livingston was active in rousing the mixed population of New Orleans to resistance, and acted as adviser and aide-de-camp to Jackson. In 1821, by appointment of the legislature, Livingston began the preparation of a new code of criminal law and procedure, since widely known in Europe and America as the " Livingston Code." It was prepared in both French and English, as required by the necessities of practice in Louisiana, and, though substantially completed in 1824, and in greater part then adopted by the State, it was not printed entire until 1833. It was at once reprinted in England, France, and Germany, attracting wide interest and praise from the most distinguished sources by its remarkable simplicity and vigour, and more especially by reason of its philanthropic provisions, which have noticeably influenced, the penal legislation of several countries. Livingston was a member of congress during 1823-29, was afterwards senator, and for two years secretary of state under President Jackson. From 1833 to 1835 he was minister plenipotentiary to France, and conducted with suc cess negotiations of considerable difficulty and importance. He died May 23, 1836. See Livingston s Life by C. H. Hunt (New York, 1864), and his complete Works (2 vols., 1873).