THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. ?3 



narrower than in the type, and with the apices of the processes 

 entire and rounded conical. 



Length without processes, 45-46 /t ; breadth without processes 

 35-36.5 /J, with processes 79-96 fi ; breadth of isthmus, 31 /t ; 

 thickness of processes, 4.8-5.8 /< ; length of processes, 25-34 //. 



Habitat. — Yan Yean Reservoir, Victoria ; in the plankton and 

 amongst weeds at the margin. 



This remarkable Staurastrum is by no means uncommon m the 

 material collected in February and March. The Australian 

 specimens differ from the BrazUian forms in the greater number 

 of processes on each semi-cell, and in their entire apices no 

 specimens were observed with any trace of teeth at the apices of 

 the processes. 



Staurastrum patens, Turn, in Kongl. Sv. Vet.-Akad. Handl.. 

 1893, Bd. 25, No. 5, p. 108, t. 14, f. 21 ; var. planktonicum, 

 var. n. (G. S. West). 



A little smaller than the type, with the angles of the semi-cells 

 slightly produced and trispinate ; in vertical view, with the sides 

 almost straight, angles slightly produced and trispinate. 



Length without spines 32 yu, with spines 52-56 fx ; breadth with- 

 out spines 38-44 p, with spmes 58-56 ji ; breadth of isthmus, 

 II. 5 /(. 



Habitat. — Yan Yean Reservoir, Victoria, in the plankton. 



This variety differs chiefly in the three large spines at each 

 angle instead of the two possessed by the Indian forms. 



EXPLANATION OF l^LATE. 



Fig. I. — Micrasterias hardyi, G. S. West, sp. n., x 400. 

 la. — Portion of end lobe, much enlarged. 

 \b. — Quadridentate end of a lateral lobule, bhown in optical section with 



two teeth, and with one tooth in perspective ; much enlarged. 

 2. — M. mahabuleslnvarensis. Hobs., Queensland, specimen of typical 



form for comparison. (Size ?) After Prof. Moebius's drawing of 



fig. 14, pi. X., Pot. Pull. XL, Contr. Qu. Fl., F. M. Bailey. 

 3. — M. mahabiiU'shwaiensis, Hobs. (var. ?), a form showing partial 



development of a third pair of lateral lobules on each semi-cell. 



From Botanical Gardens Lake, Melbourne. x 400. 

 4. — M. viahabtileshwarensis. Hobs., var. reducHun, G. S. West, var. n., 



X 400. 



Botany at the University. — The estimates recently pre- 

 sented to the University Council, amongst other proposals of a 

 scientific nature, contain provision for the erection of a Botanical 

 Laboratory, and the appointment of a Professor of Botany, who, 

 it is proposetl, shall also act as Government Botanist. This 

 arrangement should ensure the best use being made of the collec- 

 tion of Australian plants in our National Herbarium, which is 

 unequalled in the world. 



