branched. Frequently there is a decumbent or prostrate stem, from which 

 several secondary, erect stems irregularly spring. These are fiexuous, fili- 

 form, undivided, and set with lateral, alternate or secund, very unequal, 

 and horizontally-patent branches; some of these lateral branches are very 

 short, or merely rudimentary ; others are 1-2 or 3 inches long, and set with 

 similarly patent and unequal laterals. All the branches are cylindrical and 

 obtuse ; the older ones naked ; the younger closely whorled throughout 

 with minute ramelli. These ramelli are so densely placed that they form a 

 velvety coating to the branches, and are about \ a line in length, and hori- 

 zontally patent. They are many times dichotomous, with the forkings 

 divaricating, and the ends of the divisions mucronate, or ending in a spine- 

 like cellule. The cystocarps are formed at the ends of short branches, and 

 are sunk in the midst of a dense, nest-like whorl of involucral filaments, 

 and consist of tufts of large, pear-shaped, pedicellate spores, and of long, 

 filiform paranemata. The tetraspores occur, on different individuals, on the 

 whorled ramelli of all the younger branches. Colour a deep brownish-red, 

 becoming brighter in fresh- water. Substance soft, but firm and by no 

 means gelatinous, resisting the action of fresh-water. The plant adheres 

 to paper in drying. 



The species here figured has so completely the habit of a 

 Dasya, that it is not to be wondered that Dr. Sonder, who had 

 not seen fructification, should have originally referred it to that 

 genus ; nor did I, when editing the ' Nereis Australis,' discover 

 the mistake, although in that work giving a detailed figure of 

 the plant. My recent visit to Australia has put me in possession 

 of numbers of specimens with both kinds of fruit, and enabled 

 me to correct the error. 



The genus Wrangelia, founded by Agardh on a Mediterranean 

 species, has its greatest development in Australia, where many 

 fine species, of very different external habit, but all agreeing in 

 fructification, have recently been discovered. Several of these 

 we hope to figure in succeeding numbers. 



Fig. 1. Wrangelia velutina, — the natural size. 2. Apex of a branch, clothed 

 with ramelli, and bearing a cystocarp. 3. Part of the same, with the ra- 

 melli removed, the cystocarp remaining. 4. Spores and paranemata. 5. 

 Portion of a ramulus, with tetraspores. 6. A tetraspore. 7. A ramellus. 

 8. Mucronate apex of one of the divisions : — the latter figures more or less 

 magnified. 



