53. CONTRIBUTION TO 



more or less closely crowded corallites, which generally proceed in an umbellife- 

 rous manner from a parent corallite. Corallites elongate-conical to sub-cylin- 

 drical, widening at first rapidly, then more slowly, and finally retaining almost 

 the same diameter throughout. Calicinal portion not infrequently inflated. 



Corallites closely adnate for the greater part of their length, and connected 

 by mural pores. Septa absent so far as known. Interior traversed by irregu- 

 lar lamella; which extend across the cavity and frequently Join each other, di- 

 viding the visceral cavity into a number of unequal cysts. 



Observations. — This species is readily recognized by its rather coarse, 

 though not large corallites, the mural pores and the irregular diaphragms whicli 

 take the place of tabuhe. The corallites bud off from the parent in verticils of 

 three or more, and they grow upward closely adhering to the old corallites, 

 which also continue to grow and to embrace each other. They are closely 

 united by the epitheca, which in some cases extends across several corallites, 

 and iri others efiects the junction merely by root-like proliferations. The 

 epitheca is wn*inkled and the growth lines are strong, and this with the fre- 

 quent irregular constrictions of the corallites, gives them a very rough and 

 wrinkled appearance. The direction of growth is upward in most cases, but in 

 some colonies (fig. 22) it is more irregular, the corallites growing loosely. In 

 such cases the umbelliferous habit of growth is generally lost sight of. 



When the head is a dense umbel, small corallites generally occupy the 

 spaces between the larger ones, all being united by the epitheca direct, or by 

 epithecal proliferations. When the corallites are closely Joined by their walls, 

 they are generally pierced by the mural pores, which put the corallites into com- 

 munication with each other. These pores have been observed in a few specimens 

 onl}' (fig. 19), but they are undoubtedly present in most cases. In size they 

 are such as would be made by a fine pin or needle. They are quite numerous, 

 but irregularly disposed, and they are best developed where the neighboring 

 corallites are closely adnate for their entire length. 



The interior appears entirely smooth, not even septal spines having been 

 observed. The diaphragms are very coarse and can hardly be classed as tabu- 

 lae, since they are too irregular and partake more of the nature of horizontal or 

 slightly inclined cyst walls. " 



These diaphragms, together with the absence of septal spines, and general 

 rugose character of the corallum, separate this species from the others of the 

 genus, and may make it desirable to place it in a distinct genus. These fea- 

 tures closely ally the present species to Cystelasma, S. A. Miller, of which the 

 type C- lanesvillense occurs in the Warsaw group of Indiana. This genus, 

 however, is stated to be simple, while the present species . has the compound 

 mode of growth and the mural pores of Romingeria. Under this genus it will 

 be left for the present, until better preserved material allows the making of 

 sections' for the closer study of the internal structure. 



The young corallites are early cut ofi' from their parent, and the connecting 

 pore closed by sclerenchyma. 



Horizon and Locality. — Warsaw division of the St. Louis group Lower Car- 

 bonian at Lanesville, Harrison county, and at Georgetown, Floyd county, Ind. 

 Types in the collection of G. K. Greene. 



