53 



5. Rhipilia Kützing. 



(Figs. 126—136). 



Historical. 



The genus Rhipilia was founded by Kützing in his Tab. Phyc. vol. VIII. 1858 p. 12 

 tab. 28, for the reception of two species collected in the Antilles and preserved in Herb. Sonder. 

 The first is R. tomentosa and the second R. longicaulis. 



In 1870 both species were transferred to Avrainvillea by Mazé & Schramm (Algues 

 de la Guadeloupe Ed. II. 1870 — yj, pp. 89, 90) as synonyms of A. sordida Crn. and A. sordida 

 var. longipes Crn. respectively. 



In 1889, Messrs. Murray and Boodle published (Journ. of Bot. XXVII. 1889. p. 69) 

 an account of the genus Avrainvillea , in which they separate Rhipilia longicaulis from 

 Avrainvillea sordida and transfer it to their A. longicaulis. (Further remarks on Kützing's 

 figure of R. longicaulis are given under A. Mazei and A. sordida). On the other hand, the 

 type-species of the genus Rhipilia, R. tomentosa, is united by Murray and Boodle with 

 A. laete-virens Crn. as a species of Udotca. 



Dr. M. A. Howe published (Buil. Torrey Bot. Club. XXXIV. 1907. p. 512, footnote) 

 a full and excellent re-description of R. tomentosa, founded on the co-type, preserved in the 

 Sonder Herbarium at Victoria, Australia. But he follows the example of Messrs. Murray and 

 Boodle and places it in Udotca. In the present paper we revive Rhipilia as a genus and 

 add to it two new species, one from Barra Grande off Pernambuco, and the other from the 

 Malay Archipelago (Siboga Expedition). 



Systematic. 



The genus Rhipilia has heretofore been represented by a single species R. tomentosa . 

 which by Murray and Boodle (in Journal of Botany XXVII. 1889 pp. 72 and 239) and by 

 Howe (in Buil. Torrey Bot. Club XXXIV. 1907 p. 512 footnote) has, as stated above, been 

 referred to Udotea. Udotca however, as limited in the present monograph (p. 106) comprises 

 calcified flabellate species only ; and Rhipilia is distinguished from it by its uncalcified spongy 

 habit, its intricated filaments furnished with pseudo-lateral tenaculiferous branchlets, and its 

 absence of cortex. It resembles Avrainvillea in being uncalcified, and in having a frond com- 

 posed of more or less intricated filaments, not enclosed in a definite cortex. But its filaments 

 are much more laxly felted than those of Avrainvillea, which genus also differs in possessing 

 no short tenaculiferous branchlets, and in having its dichotomial branches constricted at their 

 very bases. Moreover it is not in Udotca nor in Avrainvillea that the affinities of Rhipilia 

 must be sought, but in Flabellaria and Cladocephalus. The points of resemblance with the 

 latter genus, which is characterised by the possession of a remarkable pseudo-cortex are stated 

 on p. 58. Flabellaria is a genus which we have been compelled to revive for the reception 

 of Udotea Desfojitainii and U. minima, on account of their evident ancestral affinity with 

 Chlorodesmis and their lack of affinity with the calcified species of Udotea. It contains in 



