192 NEMATOPHYCEE, 
Very common, and well known. Variable in the size, number, and 
disposition of the fascicles. 
Plate LXXV. fig. 1. Portion of filament of Draparnaldia glomerata 
x 400diam. Fig. 2, portion of filament of the variety distans x 400 
diam. 
In 1857 Dr. Braxton Hicks first described in the “Journal of the 
Linnean Society” (Vol. i., p. 192) what he believed to be a new species of 
Draparnaldia under the name of Draparnaldia cruciata, of which we 
know nothing except from his description and figures, from which we 
are disposed to regard it as a variety of Draparnaldia glomerata. It 
was first found in the New Forest, and was more fully illustrated in the 
“Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science” (Vol. ix., 1869, p. 383, 
pl. xix.). “‘ Nothing,” he says, “is more remarkable than the direction 
taken by the branches, which diverge strictly at right angles to the 
stem. Even the lesser kind, called tufts, and their branchlets, pass off 
in this way, and as four generally spring from the same joint, there is 
a cruciate arrangement in every part.” 
‘The following is given as its description :—‘ Frond 3-4 inches long. 
Light green colour, not so green as D. glomerata and D. plumosa, 
possessing a flocculent appearance when in water, and highly mucous 
when out of water. Every portionis surrounded by a distinct layer of 
transparent mucous, extending on each side to the distance of three 
diameters of the included ramulus. This is most easily seen after two 
days, when extraneous matter adheres to the mucous. The main filament 
is composed of cells very slightly inflated, 3-4 times longer than wide, 
about 35th of an inch wide, delicately fasciated. Primary ramuli pro- 
ceeding at right angles, chiefly in whorls of four, from the main 
filament, with an interval of 50-60 cells. The sub-ramuli also proceed 
in the same way from the primary ramuli, giving the plant a cruciate 
appearance. The cells of the ramulias wide as long, the larger fasciated, 
the smaller quite filled with green chlorophyll. The interspace of 50-60 
cells of main filament being great, to the naked eye it appears 
nearly bare, but by higher magnifying powers small tufts, like 
those terminating the sub-ramuli, appear at about every ten 
cells; some larger, and approaching somewhat the sub-ramuli, 
while the others are very simple. The larger terminal and lateral 
tufts have uw pyramidal form, and from all their divisions pro- 
ceeding at right angles it appears much like a fir tree, All 
the ultimate tufts bear cilia, as in the other Draparnaldie, but of 
extreme length and tenuity. From the 1-3 basal cells of the ramali 
often roots spring, coiling themselves round the main filament, and 
even spreading away from it, and sometimes the free point becomes 
converted into a tuft, like those on the main filament. The smaller 
tufts at times possess them. When the plant is mature the ramuli 
disengage themselves, and can be seen floating about with their roots, 
probably ready to attach themselves to any suitable object, and so 
become separate plants. Zoospores not so large as in D. glomerata, 
being oval, and about ‘0004 X ‘0003 inch. A whole tuft undergoes. the 
process simultaneously.” 
“Tt can easily be distinguished from D. plumosa and D. glomerata 
by the divisions diverging at right angles, and in whorls of chiefly 
four (giving the cruciate appearance), the perceptible mucous sheath, 
exceeding delicacy of the cilia, extreme tendency to give out radicles, 
the nearly equal width of the main cells, as also their greater length. 
The fir tree-like form of the tufts are go unlike the flexible shape of 
the other species.” 
A comparison of the plate given with the description we are bound to 
say does not completely bear out all the distinctions. 
