Laing. — On Neio Zealand Species of Cerainiaceee. 399 



1. Euptilota formossissima, Kuetz. (= Ptilota formossissima, 

 Mont., Prodr. Phyc. ant. p. 8.; Harv., N.Z., ii., 257; Fl. 

 Antarct., 190, t. 77 ; J. Ag., Epicr. Florid., p. 79). 



Thallus 20-30 cm. long, pinnately decompound, with the 

 pinnae alternate, the pinnules pinnatifid, and the whole plant 

 completely corticated to the apex ; the ultimate pinnules are 

 serrate, with the serrations gradually growing narrower from a 

 somewhat broad base to an acute or mucronate apex. Tetra- 

 spores triangularly divided, numerous on the teeth, on a scarcely 

 conspicuous articulated pedicel amongst similar not fertile fil- 

 aments. Cystocarps enclosed in corticated pinnatifid ramuli. 

 Antheridia unknown (?). 



Distribution. — Common on the New Zealand coasts ; Chat- 

 ham Islands. 



This is a well-known and very handsome species. The 

 pinna? are as described for the genus, of two kinds, limited and 

 unlimited in growth. Those of limited growth are more than 

 ten times more numerous than those of unlimited growth, which 

 seem to be placed irregularly, but generally give the plant the 

 appearance of being more or less flabellately decompound. 

 The pinnae of limited growth are from 4-8 mm. in length. 



2. Euptilota pellucida, R. M. L. (= Ptilota pellucida, Harv., Fl. 

 X.Z., ii., 257 ; J. Ag., Epicr. Florid., p. 75). Plate XXIX., 

 fig. 2. 



Thallus 8-12 cm. in length, roughly ovate or elliptical in 

 outline, distichously oppositely pinnately decompound, with 

 pinna? of limited and unlimited growth, but branching more 

 regular than in E. formossissima. The main stem and bases of 

 chief pinna? only corticated, and the cortication much less dense 

 than in E. formossissima. The articulations of pinna? and pin- 

 nules naked. The last series of pinnules pectinate, or pinnate 

 and the opposite ones often unlike, one being more or less un- 

 divided and the other much divided. The pectinations are 

 either on the upper or lower side of the pinnule, and are filamen- 

 tous and subulate. The apical cells of the pinna? of unlimited 

 growth are diagonally segmented. The tetraspores are lateral, 

 solitary, sparse, with short pedicel, or often apparently sessile, 

 and cruciately divided. 



Distribution. — Otago, Stewart Island (Lyall) ; St. Clair 

 (J. C. S.) ; Lyall Bay {R. M. L.). 



A much less common plant than the preceding, and of much 

 more delicate structure altogether. Its position seems to me to 

 be uncertain. Agardh places it in his division of the genus : 

 " Pinnis oppositis, utraque pagina conformi, magnitudine aequali 

 aut una majore," and in his description of the species says the 



