of South Devon and South Cornwall. 201 



7. L. angulata, n. sp. PI. VIII. 



Stem zigzag, much angulated, the spaces between the cells very 

 long, simple or slightly branched, often running out at the 

 extremity into long tendril-like claspers. Cells alternate, 

 rather deep and slender, even-rimmed, set on long ringed 

 pedicles which spring from each bend of the stem — three or 

 four rings above the origin of each pedicle. Gonothecfe on 

 short ringed stalks (three or four rings), produced on the 

 creeping fibre, irregularly ovate, terminating above in a short 

 broad neck, which is somewhat truncate at the top, with 

 a few obscure wrinkles, and occasionally one or two projecting 

 points. Polype with twenty-four to twenty-six remarkably 

 long and slender tentacles. 

 On Zostera marina, Torbay. 



This species presents some striking peculiarities. The general 

 habit is very distinctive. The main stem is strongly zigzagged, 

 the long internodes forming a series of obtuse angles. The 

 upper extremity commonly runs out into a tendril-like pro- 

 longation, which is often of great length, much thickened above, 

 and strongly annulated towards the lower end : this clasper is 

 sometimes half an inch long. The pedicles which support the 

 cells are generally long, and taper slightly upwards ; they are 

 composed of from nine to twelve rings. Sometimes there is a 

 smooth portion about the middle of the pedicle. The cells 

 themselves are rather deep and slightly made, with an even 

 margin. The gonothecse arc produced, as in Campanularia, on 

 the creeping stem ; and this is the only species of Laomedea, so 

 far as I know, in which they are thus placed. The axillary 

 position of the capsules has hitherto been accounted an essential 

 character of this genus. All the specimens which I have hitherto 

 obtained are parasitic on the Zostera. The creeping fibre runs 

 along the leaf just within the edge, giving off stems at short 

 intervals ; and between these the milk-white capsules occur, 

 generally in twos or threes. They spring, in my specimens, 

 from the side of the fibre, and are therefore recumbent on the 

 surface of the leaf. The gonothecre contain sporosacs. 



The height of L. angulata is from \ to f of an inch. Speci- 

 mens occur in which the stem is only about £th of an inch in 

 height, bearing two or three cells, while the tendril is fully \ an 

 inch in length. 



I first met with this species in the Isle of Man, where it also 

 occurs on the Zostera. 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 

 Plate VII. 

 Figs. 1, 2. Plumularia tubulifera : portion of a plume and two cells mag- 

 nified. 



