Ser. E.HODOSPKEME.E. Fam. Gelidiaceoi ? 



Plate CLXV. 



NIZYMENIA AUSTRALIS, Sond. 



Gen. Char. Frond hornj-membranous, linear, subpinnately compound, 

 composed of tliree strata ; the medullary of densely interwoven, ana- 

 stomosing filaments ; the intermediate of roundish-angular cells ; the 

 cortical of minute, coloured cellules. Fructification: 1, sessile, thick- 

 walled, wrinkled or irregular cystocarps, containing minute, subseriated 

 spores, radiating from a central, basal, fibro-cellular placenta.— Nizy- 

 MENIA {Sond.), unexplained. 



Irons corneo-membranacea, linearis, pinnatim decomposita, stratis tribus fere 

 conMcrns ; strata medidlari filis tenuibus loncjitudlnalibus intertextis anasto- 

 inosaiitibns, intermedio cellulis rotund ato-ancfulatis, corticali ceUidis minimis 

 coloratis conjlato. Fruct. : 1, " cystocarpia in disco frondis sparsa, sessilia, 

 globosa, rmjulosa, v. sublobata, demum poro pnrtim, gemmidia minuta suban- 

 gulata e placenta centrali basifixd elevatd radiantia." {Sond.) 



NiZYMENiA aiistralis, Sond. 



NiZYMENiA australis, Sond. in Linn. v. 26. j9. 521. Harv. in Hoolc. fit. Ft. 

 Tasm.v. 2.jf?. 315. 



Areschougia conferta, Harv. Alg. Exsic. n. 385, ex parte. 



Hab. Wilson's Promontory, I)r. Ferd. Mueller. Port Phillip Heads, 

 W. H. H., T. E. Rawlinson. Southport, Tasmania, C. Stuart. 



Geogr. Distr. South coast of Australia. Tasmania. 



Descr. Root a callus, |-f inch broad. Frojids sohtary or tufted, 6-10 inches 

 high, and as much or more in the expansion of' the branches, linear or 

 strap-shaped, l|-2 lines wide, flat, distichous, the primary divisions irregu- 

 lar, the secondary pinnately decompound. Branches subsimple, tapering at 

 base and much constricted at the insertion, 3-6 inches long, irregularly be- 

 set with marginal pinnfc, which are sometimes crowded together, sometimes 

 distantly inserted. The pinnre are generally naked in the lower half, and 

 furnished in the upper with several subopposite, similar but smaller pin- 

 nules; these latter are either simple, or bear a third series of much smaller 

 pinnules. All the divisions taper to the base, and are blunt at the ex- 

 tremity. Cystocurps irregular in outline, scattered on the disc of the 

 smaller segments, very dense in structure, containing a central nucleus 

 formed of filaments that bear minute spores at their extremities (exact 

 structure not clearly ascertained). Colour a bright blood-red, well preserved 

 in drying. Substance rigid, tough, and almost horny when dry. In drying it 

 does not adhere to paper. 



Ill the general habit and in tlie structme of the frond this 



