here and there grow up into longer or shorter branches carrying 

 similar non-constricted spines. In thinner and weaker forms, which 

 perhaps grow in calm places, branches are often very fine and thread- 

 like (Fig. 4). Fronds become a little broader toward the middle por- 

 tion rising from more or less narrowed base and terminate in bluntish 

 apices or branches often elongate into slender ones. Plants attain the 

 height of 4-13 cm. with the breadth of 1.5-3 mrn - ' n wider portions. 

 Fronds are compressed, except the slender branches which are almost 

 cylindrical and broader portions are often slightly channelled. 



Sori are formed around the basal or middle swollen portion of 

 spinose ramuli. Cystocarps are globular and sessile, many formed 

 along the sides of ramuli. Substance is rigid cartilaginous and is 

 rather stouter than the majority of our species of the genus. 



Remarks : The present species is to be placed in the vicinity of 

 Hypnca spidfcra (Suhr) Harv. under the section Virgatae. 



PL. LVI. Fig. 1-4 : different forms of fronds of Hypnea 

 variabilis Okam n. sp. in nat. size. Fig. 5 : frond bearing cystocarps, 

 \. Fig. 6 : growing apex of the frond, 3 ". Fig. 7 : cross-section of 

 the frond, *. Fig. 8: portion of a cross-section of the frond, 5 1 4 . 

 Fig. 9 : portion ot a longitudinal section of the frond with axial 

 filaments, c, J J. Fig. 10 : branch bearing cystocarps, \. Fig. II: 

 vertical longitudinal section of a cystocarp, 5 1 4 . Fig. 12 : portion of 

 the ncucleus and pericarp, 2 ~. Fig. 13-14-: branches bearing 

 tctrnsporic sori, \~. Fig. 15-17: cross-sections of different parts of 

 different branches bearing sori ; Fig. 15-16: ^ ; Fig. 17: \ 2 . Fig. 

 18 : portion of a sorus, -:J . 



