40 



substratum forms thick cushion-shaped or even lumpy, irregularly spherical masses. In both 

 cases processes may project from the general surface; these are sometimes nothing but low 

 tubercles or papillae, in other cases they grow out to comparatively long digitate processes. 

 We have seen already that these processes can become still higher and, instead of being digitate 

 are cylindrical or club-shaped. We have seen also that this mode of growth can be foliowed 

 step by step-, that e. g. 1211 (PI. II, fig. 4) has the appearance of say 948 a and 948 c (PI. I, 

 figs. 6 and 7) although for anatomical reasons (arrangement of tylostyles) it comes nearer 

 specimens of trop. concrescens or trop. tubulifera. We have seen likewise how in 1341a we 

 have a specimen with very different processes (PI. II, fig. 3). We observe very long processes 

 in 1341 a-d, 1365, 1971, 1975, 2049 (PI. IV, fig. 8) a. o. In such specimens the processes became 

 the most prominent feature. We see the same in Suèerites inconstans var. digitata B. M. 23- 

 In some cases these processes become club-shaped as in 612 b-d (PI. I, fig. 3). As stated before, 

 there is often a tendency in the processes to fuse with its neighbours. Again we can follow 

 step by step what may be the result of it. In 612 b three more or less club-shaped processes 

 start from a flat irregular base; in addition there a low processes, papillae or mere tubercles. 

 The three larger ones, although so close together that the clubs almost touch each other, are, 

 however, not fused. In 612 d (PI. I, fig. 3) five processes have their clubs fused together; in 

 612 c we observe two thick sterns, evidently consisting of the lower parts of fused processes, 

 whilst the clubs form one big mass together. Such specimens gradually pass into 612 a (PI. IV, fig. 9), 

 which consists of one massive piece, a typical representative of trop. glaebosa. The specimens 

 1341 a-d are interesting for the diversity of shape the processes exhibit. In 1341 d they are all 

 club-shaped ; one is free, the others have coalesced with their clubs, resembling 612 d, described 

 above. In 1341 a (PI. II, fig. 3) we find one process club-shaped, another (smaller one) digitate, 

 a third one broadening towards the top, where they end in flattened, lobed portions, surrounding 

 a cup-like depression. Specimen 1341b resembles on the whole 1341a; specimen 1341c is a 

 fragment representing only the top (PI. IV, fig. 7). At the broken (proximal) part it is one 

 piece; towards the top it consists of more or less fused processes, surrounding again a valley. 

 It is clearly seen how the processes gradually coalesce. The specimens 305 a-d (PI. II, fig. 1) on 

 the whole resemble 612 a-d. In 1047 all the processes are fused to one erect, flattened mass, 

 with several irregular "oscula", very much resembling the figure Lendenfeld gives of his Vioa 

 florida (1897 (e) PI. II, fig. 78). 



We have seen in the example of 612 a-d how by fusion of processes again massive forms 

 may originate. Once acquainted with this mode of growth, there is no difficulty in explaining 

 forms like 98, 1418, 977, 964 a-b, 966 a-b. All such forms are beyond doubt identical with Dendy's 

 Suberites inconstans var. etobosa and var. viaeandrina. It seems to me that there is no need 

 to distinguish these two "varieties", since the meandering figures are so to say only accidental. 

 In most specimens of trop. glaebosa there are portions of the surface which show the peculiar, 

 slit-like, irregular openings, which give rise, if there are many together, to the meandering 

 figure (PI. I, fig. 4). The chief difference between massive, irregularly spherical forms like the 

 above mentioned and g2 a-1, 426 d, 614 a-b etc. lies in the fact that the former show a quantity 

 of irregular openings on the surface, which, as we will see, are for the greater part nothing but 



