6Q GONDIOPHYLLUM BUFFHAM1. 



which they arise. To the naked eye the colour of the parasite 

 serves to distinguish it from its host, as its fronds are pale brown, 

 contrasting with the crimson lake of N. laceration. 



Where the Nitophyllum is attacked by the parasite, its tissues 

 swell, and the cells of the thallus at these places divide horizontally, 

 and, growing upwards, form rows of vertical cells, while at the same 

 time a simultaneous downward growth of the parasite takes place, 

 the articulated endophytic filaments creeping between the elongated 

 vertical cell-rows of the host plant. These endophytic filaments — 

 which must, I think, be regarded as the vegetative part of the 

 new genus, as the function of the free leaflets appears to be 

 entirely reproductive — ultimately form, together with the distorted 

 cells of the Nitophyllum, a small wart-like prominence with a 

 gelatinous investment. These wart-like prominences increase in 

 size both vertically and laterally, and from their surface arise short 

 thickish sprouts, which eventually grow into free, flat, simple or 

 more or less lobed and laciniated fructiferous leaflets, composed of 

 a single layer of cells at the margins, but of two or more layers at 

 the portions occupied by the reproductive organs, which make their 

 appearance at a very early stage in the development of the leaflet. 



In mode of growth and structure these leaflets are analogous 

 to the fronds of Nitophyllum, but differ from them in being purely 

 reproductive in function, no sterile or vegetative leaflets having 

 been observed. From two to four leaflets of very various shapes, 

 oval, roundish, or more or less deeply lobed, arise from the same 

 basal cushion, and continue to grow till they are from 1-5 to 3 mm. 

 in diameter. The tetrasporic and antheridic sori occupy the entire 

 leaflet, with the exception of a very narrow margin of growing 

 frond, and as the leaflet increases in size, the sori also extend, 

 following its marginal outline. The tetraspores near the base of 

 the frondlets being formed first come to maturity, and are dis- 

 charged while those situated near the margin are still in the earlier 

 stages of development. The tetraspores are tripartite, with a slight 

 tendency to the cruciate form of division. The procarps and cysto- 

 carps resemble those of Nitophyllum in all essential particulars. 

 The procarps, however, are more numerous and prominent, and 

 the sporiferous filaments of the cystocarps are more crowded, and 

 arise from a few yellowish cells, not, as in Nitophyllum laceraUnn, 

 from a well-marked stratum of large yellowish cells elongated 

 upwards {vide Plate 319, figs. 8 & 9). There is also a slight 

 difference in the structure of the walls of the pericarp. 



At first sight it may appear curious that this parasite should be 

 found on the fronds of a plant belonging to the same family 

 (Delesseriacea) and tribe (Nitophyllea) as itself; but this is by no 

 means uncommon amongst parasitical Florulete, e.g., Actinucoccus, 

 Janczeicskia, &c. 



The following is the diagnosis I propose for the new genus : 



Gonimophyllnm, now gen. — Thallus minutissimus in Nito- 

 phyllo lacerate parasiticus, quasi duabus partibus compositus, 

 inferiore parte (vegetativa) filis ramosis, monosiphoniis, irregularibus 

 inter cellulas Nitophylli repentibus, et una cum cellulis distortis 



