ag 
KUNGL. SV. VRT. AKADEMTENS HANDLINGAR. BAND 5l. N:o ll. 33 
Norway (in the Bergen museum), which is evidently identical with Sympodium cate- 
natum. This specimen also tallies with M. SARS” description of RhMzoxemia filiformis 
(1856), which must also be identified with S. catenatum. What it said below with regard 
to the position of Sympodium is supported partly by my own investigation of this speci- 
men, partly by HERDMAN'S careful description of S. catenatum. 
The most important characteristic of S. catenatum is the shape of the spicules. These 
are partly rods and crosses, relatively slightly thorned, partly lamellated, irregular, gra- 
nulated, calcareous bodies. They are comparatively closely packed in coenenchym, 
they are few in number, however, in the body walls of the anthocodia. The numerous 
different formations of spicules prove a high differentiation. In other cases the spicules 
are small and have a rudimental mark. The principal types recall the spicules of 
Alcyonium. The colonies are stoloniferous or membranous (= Sarcodictyon agglomerata 
FORBES). The anthocodiae are small and may be totally retracted. The calyx-like part 
which surrounds the lower part of anthocodia belongs to the coenenchym and also 
contains thin cell-strings (compare HERDMAN, 1894). The basal parts of the colony 
contains large canals. 
In account of what I have mentioned above, I refer Sympodvum catenatum and the 
genus Sympodium to Alcyoniidae, and in proximity to Alcyonium. The closer relation- 
ship between Alcyonium and Sympodium cannot be distinetly established for the time 
being. It appears to me that Sympodium contains species which have been developed 
from the membranous forms of Alcyonium, and which retain their growth of colonies 
upon all substrata. The reduced armature has been produced in consequence of the 
peculiar mode of growth of the colonies. A strong development of spicules is not neces- 
sary to support the low, creeping colonies. 
Alcyonium LINNÉ, 1758. 
Diagnosis: The colonies are of membranous or clumsy, lobular shape, and without 
dimorphismus. All polyps with generative tissue. Spicules are spindles, rods, rollers with 
girdles (dumb-bells), and crosses. In the bark of the colony the rollers with girdles 
(dumb-bells) and crosses are more or less numerous. All spicules are strongly thorned 
and not lamellated. 
1906 a, Alcyonium KÖKENTHAL. 
KÖKENTHAL has proposed a division of the genus Ålcyonium into three sub-groups, 
Alcyonmium (= Fualcyonium BRocH), Metalcyonium and Erythropodium. As has already 
been remarked (p. 19), the Erythropodium contains species with membranous shape, 
but these species, under other conditions of existence, may assume the shape of real 
species of Alcyonium. A revision of the genus Alcyonium, with attention paid to the views 
discussed above, is a pressing necessity. At the same time, I wish to point out that 
in all probability Metalcyonium contains fully developed specimens of Alcyonium, 
as, on investigating antarctic species, I have also found, for instance with Antalcyo- 
num clavata PÖTTNER. I must therefore reject KUÖKENTHATI/S classification. 
K. Sv. Vet. Akad. Handl. Band 51. N:o 11. 5 
