82 Mr E. M. Holmes on Sphacelaria radicans. [sess. li. 



of aS^. radicans, Harv., figured in the Phycologia Britannica, 

 seems to require further confirmation; and as, at this time of 

 the year, as Mr Traill has shown, the fructification is in its 

 best condition, I hope that the subject will not be allowed to 

 rest until the doubtful points are cleared up by careful micro- 

 scopical investigation. The fact that both kinds of sporangia 

 may occur on the same plant, or even on the same branch, 

 in this family of Algffi {e.g., Edocarpus hycmalis), should be 

 borne in mind. It seems probable that the plurilocular 

 sporangia may afford characters in their position or shape by 

 which to distinguish "the closely allied S. cirrJwsa, S. radicans, 

 and S. racemosa, the joints of which are almost equal in 

 length. A comparison of the sections of the stems might 

 also reveal some differences. 



Dillwyn describes S. olivacea as having joints equal in 

 length and breadth, and S. radicans as having them about 

 half as long as broad. 



I cannot close these remarks without paying a willing 

 tribute to the perseverance and careful observations of Mr 

 Traill. I know of no other algologist who has kept such a 

 careful record of the times of fructification and duration of 

 growth of various species as this gentleman, and only wish 

 that he could be induced to publish in detail his algological 

 diary. 



In conclusion, I may add that, as Dillwyn does not 

 describe the fructification of S. olivacea, Mr Traill's discovery 

 of it adds one more fact to our knowledge of this group of 

 plants. 



21ie Indigenous Flora of Madeira, in special relation to its 

 Peculiar Plants. By Francis M. Norman, Commander 

 RN.* 



(Read 12th May 1887.) 



From time to time, before the year 1857, fragmentary and 

 intermittent notices of the flora of the island of Madeira, 

 and lists of some of its plants, were published both in 

 England and Germany, but no serious attempt to produce a 



* Herljarium .siiecimens of most of tlie plants iiieiitioncd, and many not 

 noticed in this paper, were exhibited ))y the author. 



