percurrent stem, closely set with long, virgate branches, and clothed with 

 short ramuli. The main branches are 6-8-10 inches long, undivided, and for 

 the greater portion of their length bearing secondary branches of very unequal 

 lengths. These, as well as the main branches, are furnished with short, 

 subulate, erect ramuli. From the lower part of the stem and of the princi- 

 pal branches issue several filiform naked branchlets, 1—2 inches in length, 

 which are incrassated and strongly hooked at the extremity, and attach 

 themselves by the hook to neighbouring objects. The conceptacles are mi- 

 nute, and generally borne about the middle of the ramulus, projecting to- 

 ward its upper side ; the spores are somewhat pyriform, 4-8 growing in 

 each cluster. The tetraspores are lodged in pod-like ramuli. The substance 

 is soft, though more cartilaginous than membranous, and the frond adheres 

 to paper in drying. The colour, when growing, is a deep-red, becoming 

 much brighter and passing into scarlet in fresh-water. 



The genus Hypnea is founded on the " Fucus nwsciformis" of 

 old writers, with which several species of more recent discovery 

 have been associated. These plants have all a similar habit, 

 being characterized by densely tufted, filiform fronds, thickly 

 sprinkled, and often entirely beset, with short, spine-like ramuli. 

 In several species some of the branches are lengthened into ten- 

 drils, having hooks at the extremity. In the present form these 

 tendrils resemble an episcopal crosier, on which account (and 

 for the scarlet colour) the specific name episcopalis has been 

 assigned. 



The species are very difficult to distinguish, and no doubt too 

 many have been established by describers of solitary specimens. 

 The present is, at least, a well-marked form, and by no means 

 rare on the Australian coast. 



Fig. 1. Hypnea episcopalis, — the natural size. 2. A ramulus, bearing a 

 conceptacle. 3.tVertical section of a conceptacle. 4. A spore-cluster, from 

 the same. 5. Hamuli, with swellings in which tetraspores are imbedded. 

 6. Cross-section of the swelling. 7. A tetraspore and surrounding cells, 

 from the same :-— the latter figures magnified. 



