119 



Dendronephthya elongata, Henderson. 



The specimen is very limp and flabby, very irregular in outline, and measures 

 10 cm. in height and o em. in greatest breadth. 



The stalk is very flabby, granular in appearance, and measures fully '25 

 cm., about one- fourth of the total height. 



The first offshoots are two small branches almost directly opposite one 

 another. After a free length of nearly lo cm. the stem gives off two broad, 

 leaf-like, reflexed branches or folds, the bases 

 of which almost surround the stem, collar- 

 fashion, leaving only two small free spaces which 

 are not directly above the two smaller branches. 

 Further, there are numerous branches of un- 

 equal length given off, making the polyparium, 

 which is much flattened, very irregular in out- 

 line. The principal branches divide repeatedly, 

 those of the fourth order being the terminal 

 branches, and these give off small twigs from 



which the polyp-stalks arise. From the surface Fig. 59. D. elongata. 



of the main stem small flattened branches arise 

 of which the base is almost as broad as the flattened upper portion. 



The polyps are arranged in bundles of six, all the individuals of a bundle 

 reaching almost the same level ; they also occur singly or in small groups on the 

 edges of the flattened leaf-like branches. They measure on an average 54 

 mm. in height and 0'4S mm. in breadth, and are placed on the very short stalk 

 at an angle which is usually a right angle, though sometimes approaching acute. 

 There are two sizes of polyps on the specimen, the smaller polyps having a 

 relatively shorter stalk. The polyp-spicules are arranged in eight double rows ; 

 in each of these there are five pairs of spicules, the uppermost of which may 

 project for a very short distance beyond the polyp ; these spicules are all of 

 almost uniform length, 0-25 mm. They are flattened spindles, straight or curved, 

 and bear simple spines. 



The Stiitzbundel is well developed ; in some cases one of the spicules has a 

 length of 1-6 mm. and projects for a considerable distance (0'4 mm.) ; in others 

 it consists of a number of smaller spicules. 



Cortical spicules : (a) The stem contains spindles, straight or curved, clubs, 

 and irregular three- and four-rayed forms. No particular arrangement can be 

 determined, but the surface presents an appearance very much like that of a 

 handful of chopped hay with a few larger pieces promiscuously thrown on. This 

 appearance is continued on the branches and twigs, and only on the polyp-stalks 

 does the arrangement become a little more regular. The spindles are slender. 



