NEW ALQJE FKOM CEYLON. 145 



together and affixed (in the manner of a foliaceous lichen) one to 

 another by root-like processes. Network formed of cellular, compressed, 

 cartilaginous membranes, which are somewhat midribbed and branched 

 excessively in a repeatedly secund manner, the branches and their 

 divisions successively anastomosing, Conceptacle% scattered over the 

 frond. Tetraspores immersed in the ultimate ramifications of the net- 

 work, which are then swollen in the fertile portion. Colour livid, 

 greenish-purple when growing, brilliant purple when dry. It rapidly 

 decomposes in fresh water. 



w 



As a genus, Fanvoorstia will stand nearest to Claudea^ from whicli it 

 differs chiefly as Nitophylliim does from Belesseria, 



Fig. 1. Portion, magnified. 2. Fertile portion, more magnified, 



3. CiiAUDEA mullijida^ Harv. ; caule brevi subsimplici, foliis junioribus 

 cuneatis hine crenatis, adultis flabelliformibus dichotomo-multifidis, 

 margine ciliato-deiitato, ceramidiis subsessilibus ovatis. (Tab. YI.) 

 Hab. In rock-pools, among sand, chiefly in the shelter of the larger 

 algae, in two or three feet of water six miles west of Belligam, south 

 coast of Ceylon i November, 1853.— ^.^.^. 

 Stem half an inch to an inch long, with one to three or four leaves. 

 The very young leaf is in shape like tlie old Irish harp ; a little after- 

 wards it becomes cuneate, and crenate along the upper edge ; the 

 crenatures gradually lengthen into lobes, which are afterwards forked, 

 and the full-grown leaf is fan-shaped and multifid. The structure is 

 exactly as in Claudea elegam. 



Fig. 1. Portion of a frond, wagmjied. 2. Fertile portion, more 

 highly magnified. 



3. Maktensia fragilis ; frondibus in ca^spitem globosum densissime 

 aggregatis fragilibus tenuissimis muUifidis, lobis obtusis adultis 

 apice clathrato-fimbriatis. 

 Hab. Cast asbore, Belligam Bay, Ceylon; Nov. \^^Z.~JF.H. II. 



Much more debcafe and fragile in substance than M. elegans^ and 

 more decidedly lobed. The tufts resemble in shape and structure those 

 of Melohesia agajnciformis. The innumerable fronds coLere together 

 by their faces for half their length, and cnnnot be separated without 

 laceration. In fresh water the plant instantly turns orange, and rapidly 

 breaks up. 



VOL. VI. 



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