helminthocladijE. 159 



and described as " Nemaleon purpureum," but in more 

 recent works a new genus has been formed for its recep- 

 tion, where at present it stands alone. It is a summer 

 annual, and is found among Zostera on sandy shores. It 

 is much more rare than Nemalion muliifidum, but occa- 

 sionally considerable quantities are thrown on shore. It 

 would almost appear that its growth is dependent on 

 temperature or weather, and that it is, therefore, com- 

 paratively abundant in some seasons and very scarce in 

 others. 



Genus LXVI. SCINAIA. 



Frond rounded, forked, gelatinously membranaceous, 

 filled with mucilage, traversed by a fibrous axis, from which 

 slender, forked filaments radiate horizontally, and unite at 

 their tips to form the external membrane of the frond. 

 Spores pear-shaped, borne on fastigiate, jointed threads 

 arranged in globose clusters just within the walls of the 

 frond ; tetraspores unknown. — Scinaia, probably from the 

 Greek Schinis, a name of Aphrodite. 



Scinaia farcellata. The forked Scinaia. 



Prond cylindrical, tender, two to four inches long, vary- 

 ing much in diameter, many times forked, level-topped, with 

 a rounded outline when laid out. Spores pear-shaped ; 

 tetraspores unknown. 



This rare and interesting plant, which was formerly 

 called Ginannia furcellata, varies much in size and sub- 

 stance. The wide specimens are more delicate in texture, 

 and of a paler colour, than the narrow. The branches 

 are bag-like, and the gelatine with which they are filled 

 is exuded in drying, and causes the plant to adhere 



