22 



Dendronephthya kollikcri, var. andamanensis, Henrlerson. 



The colony is very large, measuring S-i:> cm. in height and 11 cm. in 

 breadth. It is much flattened in one plane, and its branches have the appear- 

 ance of portions of a whin-bush. 



The stalk or trunk is thick and .short, measuring almost 2 cm. in length, 

 and has a broad base of attachment. It is granular in appearance. 



The polyparium is very large, much flattened, and consists of two principal 

 branches, one of which divides into two. Below these are given off' the lower 

 branches which are reflexed, flattened, leaf-like structures with broad bases which 

 almost surround the stem, forming a collar to the upper ]jortion of the stalk. 

 From the principal branches numerous smaller branches are given off, which 

 by repeated division give rise to the polyp-bearing twigs. The whole polyparium 

 is characterised by the great growth of the three prinei])al branches, by the 

 profuse, irregularly arranged branches which rise from the whole surface of 

 the stem and pi'incipal branches, by the large spicules which are arranged 

 transversely, and by the large projecting spicules of the Stiitzbtindel. 



The polyps are arranged in small bundles of five to seven, which are placed 

 on widely diverging stalks of about 1 mm. in length, at an angle which varies 

 from right to obtuse. They occur singly on the edges of the flattened branches 

 and either singly or in small groups on the upper surfaces. They are slightly 

 oval in shape and average about O'O mm. in height and 0-78 mm. in breadth. 

 The polyp-spicules are arranged in eight double rows in each of which there are 

 three to Ave pairs of converging spicules, of which the uppermost pair is much 

 longer and projects considerably beyond the polyp. The lower polyp-spicules 

 average about 0'35 mm. in length, while the upper projecting spicule measures 

 about 072 n)m. and may project 0-36 mm. lieyond the polyp. They are 

 more or less straight spindles and have a number of blunt spines. The j^roject- 

 ing spicule is more thickly covered with blunt spines, and on the projecting 

 part the spines are directed obliquely towards the tip. 



The Stiitzbimdel is well developed and consists of several spicules, one of 

 which measures 3"8 mm. in length and projects about 1 nun. beyond the polyp. 

 Cortical s})icules : {(i) In the stem there are straight, curved or crooked 

 spindles, short, broad spindles forked at one end, and a few globular bodies. 

 All are covered with prominent rough warts regularly arranged on the surface. 

 The spindles vary from 048 to 65 mm. in length and from 0'06 to 0-66 mm. in 

 breadth. They are arranged transversely on the stem and principal branches, 

 and more or less longitudinally on the siualler branches and twigs. 



(//) In the stalk tlmve are thick spindles, straight or curved, cylindrical rods, 

 clubs, three- and four-rayed forms, rough globular forms, flattish, irregular 

 forms which may or may not be branched, and irregular star.s. All bear 



