V. R1I0D0MELACE.E. 65 



branchlets articulate; ramelli few, near the ends of the branches, sub-simple or 

 pinnate; stichidia lanceolate, clothed with ramelli (formed in the rachis of a pin- 

 nated ramellus). D. chordalis, Harv^in Herb. 



Hab. Key West, W. H. H. (12), Dr. Blodgett (59 and 75). West Indies, Mr. 

 Tumanowicz. (v. v.) 



Root scutate, with lateral, branching fibres. Stem G — 12 inches long or more, as 

 thick as sparrow's quill at base, tapering upwards and capillary above, cartilaginous 

 and tough below, very flaccid above, much branched ; dividing near the base into 

 several principal branches or secondary stems, which are repeatedly compound in 

 an irregularly pinnate manner. The primary division sometimes, from repeated 

 suppression of parts, appears dichotomous ; sometimes several of the secondary 

 branches are secund, and in other specimens crowded together and almost tufted. 

 The secondary branches are about as thick as hog's bristle, several inches long, 

 simple or having a second or third series of similar thread-like branches, beset at 

 short intervals with minute, spine-like, subulate ramuli. These latter are readily 

 seen with the help of a pocket lens, but not very obvious without one, and are 

 articulate, each consisting of four or six four-tubed internodes of equal length and 

 breadth. The main stem and larger branches are opaque, coated with irregular 

 cells ; the younger branches imperfectly jointed, the internodes areolated with 

 irregular polygonal cells, and about once and half as long as broad. A transverse 

 section of a small branch shows four primary and four alternate secondary tubes, 

 and about eight small superficial cells ; a section of the stem still exhibits the four 

 primary tubes, but the external coat is very wide and dense. Single tubed raniell! 

 are irregularly scattered on the younger parts of the branches, as well as on the 

 spine-like ramuli, from whose axils they often issue ; they are slender, pinnate, 

 sometimes bi-tri-pinnate, the pinnas very erect ; and the articulations 3-4 times as 

 long as broad. Stichidia are formed from the swelling of the upper portion of the 

 rachis (or jugament) of these ramelli, and are densely clothed with the pinnules ; 

 they are moniliform, and contain a string of tetraspores. When the transformation 

 is incomplete, the stichidium appears as if borne on the end of the rachis, but some- 

 times almost the whole ramellus is converted into fructification. Colour a fine 

 clear red. Substance tough but soft. In drying, the plant adheres closely to 

 paper. 



I have received a West Indian specimen of this plant from Mrs. Gatty, at whose 

 request I give it the name of the gentleman from whom she received it, ^Ir. 

 Tumano-wicz, a Pole noAV resident in England, and a most ardent student of marine 

 botany. I believe I have already distributed some specimens under, the MSS. name 

 chordalis, which I now lay aside. 



8. Dasta (Lopuothalia ?) lophoclados, Mont. ; stem setaceous, irregularly dicho- 

 tomous, sub-articulate ; branches divaricating, decompound, tlieir ultimate divisions 

 articulate ; all the younger parts of the frond densely clothed with sparingly 



VOL. IV. — AET. 5. ^ 



