470 



H. secunda as nothing else but two forms of the same plant. This 

 opinion I founded on the fact that the supposed different ramifi- 

 cation, being the only real difference between them, would not be 

 proof against a thorough examination of more extensive material, 

 and this point of view, that the ramification in itself is not a suf- 

 ficient character of distinction, 1 still maintain, at any rate, to 

 a certain degree. 



Nevertheless, I have now come to the conclusion that we have 



to do with two different 

 species, my conclusion being 

 based on the fact that I 

 have succeded in finding two 

 very different types of anthe- 

 ridial plants, so different 

 that they necessarily must 

 be regarded as belonging 

 to two distinct species. Had 

 these two different types 

 shown diverse forms of rami- 

 fication we might perhaps 

 by means of this have been 

 able to refer plants with 

 other fructiferous organs, 

 tetraspores and cystocarps 



to their respective species. 

 R . th . th 



' e ' 



antheridial stands in different stages of both plants being ramified 

 development, c. part of a male plant. -., diffprpnrps in a 



(a, b, about 200:1; c about 50:1.) 



rather peculiar way which 



seems to be characteristic of the male plants. 



If we now leave out of consideration the ramification as a 

 character of distinction between the two species and look upon 

 the other differences between them mentioned in the descrip- 

 tions we find that the most essential one is that H. tenella is a 

 more slender plant than secunda. Taking this into consideration 

 I now refer the most robust form of the antheridial plants found 

 to Herposiphonia secunda, the other to H. tenella 1 ). 



l ) The third West Indian form, H. Pecten-veneris (Harv.) Falkenb. is, 

 I think, nothing else but a form with recurved branchlets and summits 

 of branches. 



Fig. 428. Herposiphonia secunda (Ag.) 

 Falkenb. a, transverse section of anthe- 

 ridial stand, b, apex of branchlets with 



