80 TRANSACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE [Sess. lviii. 



antheridiis subsessilibus oblongo-ovatis pallidis, similariter 

 affixis. 



Hab. — Ad Africani Australem, prope ostiam fluminis 

 Kowie. Dr. H. Becker. 



This interesting species was sent with several other new 

 marine algae from a district in South Africa which appears 

 to have a pecnliaily rich algal flora. The plant now 

 under consideration attains, so far as can be judged from 

 the specimens received, a length of 12-18 inches. The 

 stem, which is terete at the base for about 2 inches of its 

 length, arises from a discoid base. The branches, which 

 nowhere exceed a line in diameter, are very irregularly 

 pinnate, two or three ramuli frequently arising near 

 together at variable intervals, and all the branches 

 showing a tendency to corymbose branching towards their 

 apices. The innovations occur at intervals of I to f inch, 

 and as the frond is slightly twisted at each innovation, it 

 assumes, before pressure, a somewhat spiral appearance. 

 The nemathecia,cystccarps, and antheridia occur on distinct 

 plants, and are situated between the midrib and the margin 

 of the frond, never in the axils of the teeth, nor on the 

 margin of the teeth, as in other species. They occur on 

 both sides of the frond, and occasionally two or three are 

 grouped together. The cystocarps are shortly stalked, not 

 perfectly smooth, and are compressed and reniform, closely 

 resembling in shape the sporangium of a Lycopodium. 

 The nemathecia are shortly stalked, and vary in shape 

 from globose to broadly oval. The antheridia are of a 

 yellowish tint, nearly sessile, and ovate or ovate-oblong. 

 The latter organ has not, that I am aware of, been 

 previously described in the genus Phaeelocarpus. The 

 cells form a dense layer on the surface of the antheridium. 



The drawings illustrating this paper have kindly been 

 made for me by ray friend and collaborateur ]Mr. E. A. L. 

 Batters, M.A., B.Sc, F.L.S. 



EXPLANATIOX OF FIGURES IN PLATE I. 



1. Portion of plant, natural size. 2. ifaguified portion of branchlet 

 sliowiug position of the pedicel on the surface of the frond. 3. Tetra- 

 sporic fruit, showing the lateral cavities containing the tetra-spores. 

 4. A cavity magnified, o. An isolated tetraspore with paraphyses. 

 G. A cystocarpic fruit. 7. Longitudinal section of the same. 

 8. Antheridium. 



