V. GELIDIACEJ^. 119 



whorled, simple, whorled at short intervals with broadly subulate, acute or obtuse, 

 spine-like ramuli. J. Ag. Sp. Alg. 2, p. 627? Sphcerococcus isiformis, Ag. Sp. Alg. 

 I, p. 271? Kiitz. Sp.p. 777. Hyjmea Wurdemanni, Uarv. MSS. (Tab. XXIV.) 



Hab. Abundant at Key "West, Dr. Wurdeman, Br. Blodgett, W. H. H. Bahia 

 Honda, Prof. Tuomey. (v. v.) 



Tufts a foot or more in diameter, globose, composed of many stems branching in 

 all directions from a central point. Stems of the larger specimens nearly half an 

 inch in diameter at base, soon dividing into several simple branches six or eight 

 inches long, as thick as swan's quills at the base, tapering gradually to the diameter 

 of a crow's quill at the summit, furnished throughout, at distances of two or three 

 lines, with lateral, opposite, whorleJ, or scattered secondary branches which spread 

 to all sides. These branches are from four to six inches long and in large speci- 

 mens bear another series of similar branches. They, as well as the main stem, are 

 nodose or swollen at short intervals, the nodes armed with three or four or more 

 verticillate, spreading spines. Spines one to three lines long, from a broadly coni- 

 cal base tapering to an acute j)oint ; in old specimens and toward the base of the 

 larger branches obtuse, mamillaeform or sub-obliterated. The ends of the branches 

 are sometimes incrassated into a subglobose head, which is either simple or lobed 

 and plaited like the inflorescence of Celosla cristata. In fertile specimens the 

 whorled spine-like ramuli are much less regularly disposed. Concejjtacles borne on 

 the ramuli, one, two or more on each ramulus, variously placed, often terminal, 

 ovate, with a minute pore ; walls very thick, composed of two strata, the inner of 

 many rows of jjolygonal cells, the outer of radiating moniliform filaments : placeiUa 

 central, suspended in the cavity by numerous, confervoid filaments connecting it on 

 all sides with the walls of the conceptacle, cellular, often hollow within, bearing 

 moniliform, densely crowded, simple or branched spore-threads on every side. Spores 

 roundish oblong, the terminal one sub-pyriform. I have not seen tetraspores. 

 Colour when i-ecent a dark full red, becoming scarlet, orange and yellow, and at 

 length semitransparent and horn-like on exposure. Substance firmly cartilaginous. 

 In drying, the frond shrinks very much, and if strongly pressed will adhere, though 

 imperfectly, to paper. 



The first specimens of this truly noble plant wliich I received were collected by 

 the late Dr. AVurdeman, and, believing them to belong to an undescribed species, I 

 wished to bestow his name upon it. Afterwards, on carefully reading the chai'acter 

 given by the elder Agardh of his Spharococcus isiformis, described from West Indian 

 specimens, it appeared to me that it had many points in connnon with Dr. AVurde- 

 man's plant, and I therefore connnunicatcd by post a small branch of the latter to 

 Professor J. Agardh, requesting him to compare it with that described by his 

 father, and to give me his opinion as to their identity. In reply he informs me 

 that our Key West plant " looks like a different, though nearly related species ; the 

 S. isformis Ag. being a far more gelatino-cartilagineous and coarser plant, with a 

 somewhat different and transparent tint of red, and all the spines obtuse, even the 

 young ones." This opinion was formed on a small branch such as could be sent in 



