8 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



The frond consists of a flattened axis growing in one plane, terminating in a 

 single lamina and giving off two or three pairs of opposite or approximately opposite 

 branches, each consisting of a flattened stipel and expanded terminal lamina. The 

 central terminal lamina is smaller at first than the laminae of the laterals below it, but 

 finally it grows enormously and may constitute the greater portion of the frond. Not 

 infrequently the lowest branch on the stipes is single, and other unpaired branches 

 may occur at a higher level, but in our plants the prevailing character of the branching 

 is opposite. There is no appearance of dichotomy. The youngest leaves are quite 

 flat, but with growth the margins become more or less undulating. 



The complete system of branching is developed at an early stage, and the mature 

 plant is developed by the expansion of the parts thus outlined. 



It will be useful to give more detailed description of some of the individuals 

 obtained. 



1. This plant, though not the smallest in size, exhibited the simplest stage 

 observed. It was attached to a complex of various growths, the attachment being 

 smothered with Plocamium coccineum. The common stipes was 4 cm. long, flattened 

 throughout. From the triangular distal expansion sprang the stipels of the three 

 laminae which constituted the whole frond. Two were lateral and opposite. The 

 third directly continued the primary axis. The whole plant was expanded in the 

 plane of the flattening of the stipes. The lateral stipels were somewhat over 1 cm. 

 long, nearly equal, and flattened in the general plane, without twist. The laminae 

 were unequal, generally ovate -lanceolate, one somewhat falcate, the margins slightly 

 undulate. The longer lamina measured 9-5 cm., while the falcate lamina was shorter. 

 The terminal stipes was shorter than the lateral, the lamina narrower and lanceolate, 

 8 cm. long. In all the apices were narrowed but obtuse. 



(Plate 1, fig. 1.) 



In a smaller plant, which, however, exhibits further division of the frond, the 

 attachment of the early stages is seen to consist in a single circle of holdfasts growing 

 out from the stipes. 



(Plate 1, fig. 2.) 



2. This plant showed further development. The total length was about 54 

 cm. The common stipes terminated below in a rosette of stout irregular processes 

 (holdfasts) spreading to a radius of 3 cm. At a height of 1-5 cm. sprang a second 

 similar rosette of rather shorter holdfasts. At a height of 5-5 cm. above this second 

 circle sprang the first lateral, single. At 3-75 cm. above this originated a pair of 

 opposite laterals, and at a further height of 5-5 cm. a second pair arose. The 



* 



