137 
THE MORPHOLOGY AND SYSTEMATIC POSITION OF 
SCYTOTHAMNUS AUSTRALIS. 
By Cuartorre M. Gisson, B.Se. 
(Prates 490, 491.) 
Tuts alga was first described as Chordaria australis by J. G, 
gandhi in Linnea, xy. p. 47 (1841). It had been collected in New 
Zealand during the voyage of the ‘Astrolabe’ and given to Agardh 
by Achille Richard. It was sterile, and was onde Agardh 
distinct generically from Chordaria, Four years later it was 
made the type of a new a Satdicentans. by Hooker and 
Harvey i in me Journ. Bot. iv. p. 531, and was furnished with a 
on tidal rocks. These authors give an accurate pp, of the 
mature vegetative structure of the thallus, making the statement 
that it is solid or hollow according to age. They describe the re- 
i, inter fila peripheri 
describing the plant, expresses a similar opinion, based upon the 
structure of bse: thallus and the position and appearance of the 
spora ngia. n describing it again, however, in 1881 (Till Algern. 
Syst. ii. 62), 2 points out that it differs from Chordariacee in that 
its peripheral filaments are not free but are cemented together into 
a firm tissue. 
De Toni (Syll. Alg. iii. p. 455, 1895), “and Kiitzing (Sp. Alg. 
p. 547, 1849, and Tab. Ph lead viii. 6, . 12, 1858), in their deserip- 
tions add nothing to previous accounts, but the latter figures the 
habit of the plant, - nine a longitudinal and transverse section 
of “ mature thallu 
a terial 
The following account is based on an examination m4 mai 
preserved » ing which was placed at my dap by ~ 
co y of the authorities of the British Museum, and was = 
to them by Mr. R. M. Laing, of Christchurch. The examina 
Journan or Borany.—Vou. 46. [May, 1908./ L 
