MISS E. 8. BARTON ON NOTHEIA ANOMALA. 423 
Chnoospora, &c. cluster round the mouth of the eryptostomata. 
It only needs a step for the fruits to drop into the cavity in 
their midst, and thus convert the eryptostoma into a fertile 
conceptacle. This view, on the other hand, does not account 
for the eryptostomata of Fucus, Turbinaria, &c., which might 
be claimed by Prof. Bower in support of his theory that erypto- 
stomata are incomplete sexual conceptacles. 
That these hairs are of importance to many members of the 
Ph&ophycex is evident by the careful protection they receive; 
but the manner in which they serve the plant has yet to be 
discovered. The subject of eryptostomata and their hairs is, 
however, dangerous ground for speeulation, but it is hoped that 
new facts concerning these bodies may eventually throw a clearer 
light on their origin and function. 
Notheia anomala has long been known as the only recorded 
parasite among the Fucacex, but details of this parasitism have 
been wanting. Hooker (Handbook N. Z. Flora, l.e.) says it 
grows from the conceptacles of its host Hormosira; but after 
examining a large number of instances of the junction between 
host and parasite, I find this statement incorrect. The point of 
entry is in most cases quite close to the mouth of a cryptostoma 
or conceptacle of Hormosira, but in no case have I seen any part 
of Notheia penetrate into the conceptacle itself of the host-plant. 
In the earliest stages, the spore apparently divides on the surface 
of the host and throws out a delicate septate filament, which 
penetrates between the host-cells and branches in every direc- 
tion; thus forming a sort of loose network, without, however, 
actually penetrating into the host-cell. By means of offshoots 
running up to the surface of the host, from one of the filaments 
of Notheia, the gelatinous cuticular layer of the host-plant is 
thrown off and room is made for the parasite to develop. Mean- 
while several of the filaments inside the host have formed together 
a sort of small cushion (Pl. 13. fig. 11) from which the young 
shoot grows up, forcing its way through the loose tissue which 
surrounds it (Pl. 14. fig. 12). Other cells of the cushion grow 
out into hairs, and the whole has very much the appearance of 
an irregular cryptostoma, producing a young branch as described 
above. As this shoot grows out from the host-thallus, the sur- 
rounding host-cells divide actively and swell up around the base 
of the young plant (Pl. 13. fig. 13).  Rhizoids are given off from 
the base of the pseudo-cryptostoma which penetrate between 
