54 



growth freelj at the bottom. They are however more delicate than thosc known from Funafuti 

 and the Maldives. The branches too are more elongated and less attenuating upwards, but 

 otherwisi i ing with the said form. Cp. pi. X, fig. 7 — 9 and Lithoth. Mald. and Laccad. 



pi. XXV, fig. |. As to structure it fullj coincides with the type, fig. 22. 



The form congesta in this collection is not quite 

 typically developed, being more- irregular, with the branches 

 less fastigiate than in the type specimen from the Maldives. 

 The branches are in this form too a little longer than in 

 the type. Cp. pi. X, fig. 10 — 11, and Lithoth. Mald. and 

 Laccad. pi. XXV, fig. 5. As mentioned vinder G. laccadi- 

 vicum, the form in (juestion is sometimes not easily dis 

 tinguished from the last named species. In habit it also 

 recalls certain forms of Lithothamnion erubescens. 



The most differing form of the species is however 

 f. subtilis. There is a consiclerable difference in habit between 

 this form and a coarse f. typica, and still more it cliffers 

 from a coarse f. flabelliformis \ but the latter form does not 

 occur in the Siboga collection. The form subtilis is only 

 met with attachecl to other objects, partly intermingled with 

 Fig. 22. Gonioiithon frutescens Fosl. filiform algae. It distinguislies itself by rather densely crowded 



1 ,,„ section of a bnmch of the branches, which are partly subdichotomously, partly irregularly 



type specimen; X 72. l J ° 



divided and very delicate. The latter are terete, with short 

 axes, partly a little attenuating upwards, partly not, and about i mm. thick. They often bend 

 themselves downwards, and continuing their growth they come into contact with the substratum 

 or extraneous objects. From the downwards turning tip of a branch is then sometimes developed 

 a small disc-shaped ernst on the substratum, or crustlike formations are formed over the said 

 extraneous objects. Besides, the branches now and then anastomose with each other. In regard 

 to structure the form fnlly coincides with the typical one, but the conceptacles are on the 

 other hand a little smaller. This form much resembles Lithophyllum byssoides Lamour in 

 habit, and sterile specimens are hardly distinguishable except as regards structure, in which 

 respect they are, however, quite different. 



Occurrence: Only a single and young specimen has been brought home from each 

 of the stations 9] and 93. At stat. 220 have been collected a number of specimens, which 

 partly belong to f. congesta, partly form transitions to f. typica, or are referable to the latter, 

 but mostly not well developed. A couple ot specimens from stat. 240 belong to f. congesta, but 

 approach in habit to G. laccadivicum. The best developed specimens are from the stations 261 

 and 277. The form subtilis is only known from stat. 225. Thus the distribution of the species 

 has a rather wide range within the investigated area, but is more feebly developed and 

 apparently occurring in less number than at Funafuti and the Maldives. 



Area: South Pacific : Samoa, Ellice Islands (Funafuti); Indic : Keeling Islands, the 

 Maldives and Laccadives. 



