494 Annals of the South African Museum. 



(/>) CHLORODENDRALES. 



(1) OHLORODENDRACEAE. 



Genus ECBALLOCYSTIS Bohlin. 

 1. Ecballocystis ramosa, n. sp. (Fig. 3.) 



Thallus microscopicus, algis filamentosis pede gelatinoso, hyalino r 

 rotundato vel subconico adhaerens. Cellulae ovules vel elliptico- 

 oblongae, ca. 2-2| plo longiores quam latae, membrana tenui, iu 

 utroque autem polo plus minus incrassata, chromatophora siugula (?) 

 laminaeformi, pyrenoidibus duobus concinne ordinatis, uucleo centrali. 

 Divisio cellularum oblique et successive iu 2, 4, vel 8 partes fit ; iuterea 

 membrana cellulae maternae augetur et in apice aperitur ; deinde una 

 vel duae e cellulis filialibus sursum procedunt et hiatui cellulae maternae 

 pede gelatinoso (qui est eadem crassitudine qua poli)' se adjungunt ; 

 cellulae filiales residuae in basi cellulae maternae restant vel plus 

 minus in lineam disponuntur. Qua ratione coloniae amplae copiose 

 ramosae oriuntur. Propagatio ? (veresimile est zoosporas esse). 



Cellulae maternae ( ante fissionem), usque 48 x 20 p.; cellulae filiales 

 (ante divisionem), 21 x 10, 25 x 12. 27 x 10,31 x 12, 31 x 16, 

 33 x 14, 48 x 16^ (quae cellula pyrenoides multos habebat). 



Sample 8 (rare), 56, 57. 



The first beginnings of a colony of this interesting form are shown 

 in Fig. 3, a. The oval cell lias a, thin membrane which is, however, 

 more or less thickened at each pole. The thickening at the lower end 

 is rounded or more or less conical and constitutes the base of attach- 

 ment of the whole colony. At first it is not readily stained by methvl 

 blue, but later, as it gradually broadens out into a mucilaginous pad 



Fig. 3. — Ecballocystis ramosa, n. sp. a. First beginnings of a colony, the 

 polar thickenings are well seen. b. A cell in which the contents' have 

 undergone oblique division, the upper half having divided again, c. A 

 later stage in development, in which the mother-cell membrane has 

 ruptured and one of the daughter-cells has shifted up to the opening. 

 d. An older colony, showing two mother-cell membranes and two 

 daughter-cells which have moved up to the opening in the mother- 

 cell membrane and are in process of further division, e. Late stage 

 in division prior to the rupture of the mother-cell membrane. /. Initial 

 cell which has undergone two successive processes of rejuvenescence. 

 g. A mother-cell which has divided into four parts and is irregularly 

 bulged, h. Older colony in which the first cell divided into four parts, 

 only two of the daughter-cells shifting to the aperture ; of these one 

 has divided into two, the other into three, i. A colony showing for- 

 mation of reproductive cells (zoospores ?). j. Division into four with 

 shifting of two cells to the aperture, i. A large mature colony, 

 showing rejuvenescence, and an instance of triple branching. The 

 nucleus (shaded) and pyrenoids are shown in many of the figures. All 

 figures x 600. 



