- 
508 ETHEL SARA BARTON ON CHNOOSPORA FASTIGIATA, 
therefore made through a young part.of the-thallus, with the 
result that the cryptostomata were found to form the centre of 
sori of plurilocular sporangia, as known in Colpomenia. The 
sporangia develop centrifugally and apparently coalesce, so that 
long patches: of fruiting tissue are formed up the centre of the 
thallus, the most protected part of the plant. 
The tufts of hairs arising from the cryptostomata are probably 
the hairs described by Prof. Agardh as being directly connected 
with the fruit; the “sterile” portion surrounding the “ spori- 
ferous threads,” which is covered by a cuticle, being perhaps the 
sorus of plurilocular sporangia. It is not easy, however, to see 
what is meant by the “ branched sterile hairs,” which could only 
refer again to the eryptostoma hairs, and is even then not an 
accurate description. The only explanation of the “ sporiferous 
threads " that I can suggest is that sometimes a few of the hairs 
in the cryptostomata are broken off short at the growing point 
and are very full of contents; their upper cells are more or 
less rounded, and these may be the “ spore-bearing threads" of 
Prof. Agardh, while the long hairs are those which are said to 
act protectively and are likened to those in Arthrocladia. 
The finding of cryptostomata surrounded by plurilocular 
sporangia makes it now possible to speak definitely with regard 
to the systematic position of Chnoospora. All resemblance 
between it and Arthrocladia is at an end, and the nearest allies 
of the genus must be sought among Enceliacee. The present 
limits of this Order, as generally accepted, will not entirely hold 
good, as has been shown in the life-history of Soranthera 
ulvoidea, Post. et Rupr.; but for the present, in any case, 
Chnoospora must take its place in Enceliacee next to Hydro- 
clathrus and Colpomenia. 
An examination of the material of Chnoospora fastigiata col- 
lected by Dr. Harvey in Ceylon also shows distinct cryptostomata 
in the centre of the plurilocular sporangia. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE 28. 
Fig. 1. Chnoospora fastigiata. Small plant. Nat. size. 
2. Transverse section of thallus, showing cryptostoma and sorus. 
. Cortical cells of same. x 450. 
- Cryptostoma and plurilocular sporangia. Xx 375. 
. Mature and empty sporangia. x 375. 
x45. 
He co 
c 
