128 AET. 12. K. YENDO. 



developed plant has a very intricate appearance, and is likely to 

 be mistaken for a sort of holdfast. The shoots, i.e. the axial 

 stems, seem to develop very slightly, attaining not more than 1-2 cm. 

 in height. Their stems are virtually smooth and cylindrical but 

 have an irregular knotty appearance owing to the protuberances 

 above noted. 



The principal branches play the main part of a frond and 

 in a well-grown individual may measure 2-2.5 feet in total length. 

 The stem at the lower portion of a principal branch is essen- 

 tially triquetrous with the leaves spirally disposed on it, the 

 angle of their divergence being i. This, however, is not readily 

 recognized as the stem is more or less twisted. From the inser- 

 tion point of each leaf there passes downwards a prominent, 

 almost wing-like ridge, to the lower third insertion. Hence the 

 stem becomes complanated with the successive internodes com- 

 pressed, by the twisting of the stem, in different planes. 



Leaves on the principal branches are thick, cartilaginous, 

 and dark olive-brown in colour even in the fresh condition. 

 They are simple, obliquely spathulate or hemiphyllous, evanes- 

 cently costated, attenuating and recurving downwards to a com- 

 pressed petiole. The margin is absolutely entire. The lamina of 

 a leaf is disj^osed perpendicularly and the petiole is horizontally 

 flattened. No cryptostomata are seen. 



The lateral branches appear after the principal branches 

 have attained their full length. They are axillary, and not 

 more than 3-4 inches in length. Their stems are thinner than 

 the principal branches but have similar characters ; and the 

 leaves on them are much narrower, being obliquely cuneate or 

 lanceolate, attenuated toward the base. >- 



Vesicles are subcompressed, elongato-elliptical, mucronated 



