feet in length, and varying in width from 2 lines to 1^ inch. This pri- 

 mary frond is traversed by a more or less evident midrib, and emits, from 

 points always witliin the margin, numerous opposite pairs of similar fronds, 

 which form i\\Q primary pimice ; these emit secondari/, similar pinnae; and in 

 old specimens a third, and sometimes a fourth, series is similarly developed. 

 This proliferous branching is very constant ; the jirolifications springing 

 from the same points, and being almost constantly exactly opposite in their 

 insertion. Sometimes the ends of the branches, in narrow individuals, are 

 drawn out into long, clasping tendrils. Ceramidia thickly sprinkled over the 

 surface of the phyllodia, both primaiy and secondary globose, depressed at 

 the summit, raised on pedicels ^ a line long, and containing a large tuft of 

 pedicellate, pear-shaped spores. Stichidia also scattered, lanceolate, contain- 

 ing a double row of roundish tetraspores. Colour, while growing, a grey, 

 with iridescent tints, but rapidly changing in the air, or in fresh-water, to a 

 bright rosy-red, which latter tint is well preserved in drying. Substance 

 cartilaginous, at first crisp, very rapidly becoming flaccid, and in the course 

 of a few hours decomposing in fresh-water. In drying this plant adheres 

 strongly to paper. 



This, the typical species of Sarcomenia, as ah'eady remarked 

 under S. hypneoides (Tab. XII.), varies extremely in breadth, 

 but scarcely in any other character. The broad-fronded indi- 

 vidual represented at Pig. 1 in our Plate, grew along with that 

 shown at Pig. 2, which, though narrow, is by no means the 

 narrowest that occurs. It has been chosen for illustration be- 

 cause it combines the general characters of the ordinary narrow 

 form, with the cirrhiferous extremities that particularly mark a 

 still more depauperated variety. 



Some of the narrow -fronded specimens are very much branched, 

 resembling luxuriant states of Belesseria crassinervia, while the 

 broad-fronded approach in aspect Bel. coriifolia, — a rare species 

 of Western Australia that I formerly (Ner. Austr. p. 21) con- 

 founded with this plant. The resemblance to the Belesserice is 

 merely external, the structure of frond and characters of fruit 

 being widely different. In structure and fruit Sarcomenia com- 

 pletely agrees with Bhodomelacea, and may stand either near 

 Odonthalia or Dasi/a. An unfigured species [S. dasyoides) very 

 closely connects it with the latter genus. 



Pig. 1. Sarcomenia delesserioides, var. a, latifolia. 2. Var. /8, passing 

 into var. y : — both tlie natural size. 3. Section, to show the cellular structure. 

 4. A ceraiuidium. 5. Spores from the same. 6. A stichidium. 7- -^ 

 tetrasporc : — the latter figures variously mcujnijied. 



