99 



Sm^m ^ s , toc ^P ia ? acl b asin fimbriarum, prominula, echinata 

 hmbnlha mdivisis vel multifidis. Tetrasporangia ignota. Color 

 rosous. 



Hab. Timaru, Laing, 1245. 



The above diagnosis is founded en a single but very fine 

 specimen sent by Mr. Laing. Allied to R. acanthocarpa, J. Ag., 

 m its structure and aculeate cystocarps, R. Laing it differs from 

 tnat species in possessing larger and thicker fronds, together with 

 a more clearly marked rosulate-areolate arrangement of the cortex. 

 lne degree and manner of branching would also appear to be 

 somewhat different from that species, though until more material is 

 forthcoming if, is impossible to speak definitely as to this. In the 

 specimen examined there is one main frond, about 2 cm. in width, 

 wnich branches in a simple pinnate manner; the lateral branches 

 are about 1 cm. in width, and attain a length of 7-8 cm. 



3 . Rhodophyllis membranacea, Harv. in Hook. PI. New Zeal., 



111 ' A ^' Ep T 1C -' 18 S' p ' ? 65 ; De Toni S 7 IL A te-< W97, vol. iv., 

 p. 344, partim ; Laing Rev. List, 1901, p. 341 ; non Harv. Austral. 

 Exsi cc. Isos. 3/1-373. 



Halymenia membranacea, Harv. in Lond. Journ. Bot., 1814, 

 vol. in., p. 448. 



Rhodymenia membranacea, Harv. in Lond. Journ. Bot., 1847, 

 vol. vi., p. 405. ' 



Stichophyllum membra naceum, Kiitz. in Bot. Zeit., 1847, vol v . 

 p. 1 ; Kiitz. Spec. Alg., 1849, p. 874. 



Euthora membranacea, J. Ag. Spec. Alg., 1852, vol. ii., p. 385. 

 Dictyopsis pZmbriata, Sond. in Linnaea, 18")."), vol. xxvi., p. 519. 



m Frond membranous, of medium size, up to 15 cm. long, 

 irregularly decompound pinnate, subflabellate, red to fuscous red. 

 Root fibrous. Main branches 5-10 mm. wide, irregularly pinnate, 

 margins frequently fimbriate ; pinnae narrow, irregularly 

 alternate; ultimate pinnae linnear-oblong, sub -acute, rareh 

 attenuated at the base ; axils of branches and pinnae rounded. 

 Thallus composed of two more or less distinct lavers, an inner of 

 large cells two or more deep arranged parallel 'to the plane of 

 the frond, and an outer consisting of an imperfect layer of smaller 

 cells ; rosulate-areolate appearance not shown from above ; entire 

 thallus densely punctate with small cells containing red-brown 

 contents. Veins absent. Cystocarps of medium size, marginal 

 1 etrasporangia zonately divided, scattered, or more or less collected 



into groups near the apices of the ultimate pinnae, verv large 

 70 x 3<V . * * * 



Hab. Cook's Straits, Lyall ; East Coast, Col mm ; Timaru, 

 Laing, 1248 ; Chatham Islands, Maltby. 



As a result of R. membranacea, Harv., being wrongly united 

 with R.fimbriata, Harv., and still more so by Harvey's Australian 

 Lxsiccatae being sent out wrongly named, this species has become 

 unrecognisable. 



The history may be briefly stated as follows. The original 

 fasmanian specimens (Gunn, No. 1276) sent to Sir W. Hooker 



31398 



A 2 



