42 VALONIACE^. 



found described below under the name Blodgettia, because it is not quite certain 

 whether it be properly a member of this series ; or possibly the type of a separate 

 family. 



The fructification of none of these plants is satisfactorily known. 



All are natives of tropical and sub-tropical latitudes. The Penicilli or Mermaris 

 Shaving Brushes are characteristic of coral reefs, and are found in the Caribbean Sea, 

 and on the shores of Australia and of the Indian archipelago. Anadyomene is common 

 to the Mediterranean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the shores of Brazil. DictyosphcBria 

 is tropical and Australian. Valonia is found in most western oceans, and ought to 

 occur on the Floridan Keys, though not yet found there. Microdictyon is generally a 

 deep water production, lying at the bottom in 5-10 fathoms ; but it sometimes occurs 

 at low water mark. Species of it, all very similar to each other, have been found in the 

 tropics of both hemispheres and in the Mediterranean ; and one is very abundant in 

 Port Jackson, Australia. Struvea is confined to the West coast of Australia, and 

 Apjohnia to the Southern coast. Chamcedoris is Caribbean ; and Acrodadus, N«g., a 

 closely allied form, is found in the Mediterranean. 



TABLE OF THE NORTH AMERICAN GENERA. 



* Dendroid; stipitate, crowned with tufted filaments. 



I. Cham^doris. Stipes monosiphonous, annulated ; head very dense. 



II. Penicillus. Stipes formed of innumerable interwoven filaments, spongy ; head 



brush-like. 



** Confervoid ; densely tufted. 



III. Blodgettia. Frond filamentous, articulated, branching, densely tufted. 



*** Membranous., leaf -like. 



IV. Anadyomene. Membrane erect, flabellately veined ; veins articulated, confervoid, 

 radiating from the base toward the margin. 



V. DiCTYOSPHiERiA. Membrane amorphous, wholly formed of spherical cells lying in a 



single stratum. 



I. CHAM^DORIS, Mont. 



Root much branched. Frond stipitate, dendroid. Stipes at first clavate, then 

 cylindrical ; tubular, unicellular, horny-membranous, annularly constricted and corru- 

 gated, at length crowned with a dense fascicle of confervoid, much branched, articulate 

 ramelli. Fruit unknown. 



