Ser. Chloeospermej;, Fam. Siphonacea. 



Plate LXV. 



CAULEUPA SIMPLICIUSCULA, J^. 



Gen. Chae. Frond consisting of prostrate surculi rooting from their lower 

 surface and throwing up erect branches or secondary fronds of various 

 shapes. Stibsiance horny-membranous^ destitute of calcareous matter. 

 Structure unicellular, the cell {frond) continuous, strengthened inter- 

 nally by a spongy network of anastomosing filaments, and filled with 

 semifluid grumous matter. Fructification unknown. — Caulekpa 

 {Lamour.), from Kav\o<;, a stem, and kpirw, to creej). 



Frons ex surculis prostratis hie illic radicantibus et ramis erectis polymorpMs 

 formata. Substantia corneo-membranacea. Structura tinicellulosa, cellulce 

 membrana continna hyalina intus fills cartilaglnels teH/dsslmis anastomo- 

 santibus firmata et endochromate denso vlrldl repleta. Fr, ignota. 



Caulerpa simpliciuscula ; surculus robust, glabrous ; fronds erect, cylin- 

 drical, papillated, subsimple or sparingly branched ; branches alter- 

 nate, equal, obtuse, subcorymbose; every portion of stem and branch 

 densely covered with minute, ellipsoidal ramenta. 



C. simpliciuscula ; stirculo robusto glabra ; fronde erecta cylindracea paplllata 

 simpllciuscula v. sparsini ramosa ; ramls erectis alter^iis (squallbiis obtnsis sub- 

 corymbosis, cum cuule ublque ramentis minutis elllpsoldeis denslssime velatls. 



Caulerpa simpliciuscula, Ag. Sp. Alg. v. 1. p. 439 ; Syst. p. 182. Midi. 

 Zrd Suppl. p. 16. Harv. Alg. Austr. Exsic. n. 561. 



Chauvinia sirapliciuscula, Kiitz. Sp. Alg. p. 499. 



CoDiUM simpliciusculum, Grev. Syn. p. Ixvii. 



Fucus simpUciusculus, R. Br. in Turn. Hist. t. 175. 



Var. )8. vesicullfera ; more slender, with much larger ramenta. 



Var. j8. vesicullfera ; graclllor, ramentis quadriiplo majoribus. 



Caulekpa vesicullfera, Rarv. MS. Alg. Austr. Exslc. n. 560. 



Hab. In deep tide-pools near low-water mark. On the "Jetty" reef, 

 Eottneet Island, W. Australia ; also at Port Tairy ; Port Phillip 

 Heads and Western Port, Victoria, W. H. H. Tasmania, Mr. Gunn, 

 W. H. H., etc. S. Austraha, Dr. Curdle. Var. (3. at Western Port 

 and in Tasmania. 



Geogk. Distr. Western and southern coasts of Australia. Tasmania. 



Descr. Surcidi a line or more in diameter, branched, several inches long, densely 

 matted, with frequent rooting processes, glabrous, pale-green, glossy when 

 dry. Fronds from an inch to 6-13 inches or more in length, from 1-3 or 

 4 lines in diameter, cyhndrical, obtuse, of equal diameter throughout. 



