On the PithophoracetE. 



63 



[P. subvalida, tilo principal! partis tballi cauloideae speeiminum fertilium c:a 

 105 (A crasso, ram 09 unius vel duorum ordinum emittente; ramis ordinis priini sin- 

 gulis vol (rarius) binis oppositis; ramis ordiim secundi singulis; sporis solitariis 

 (rarius geminatis), vel inelasis vel terminalibus ; sporis in ramis primi ordinis in- 

 clusis vel cylindricis vel orculseformibus ; sporis in filo principal inclnsis plerumque 

 forma subirregulari; sporis cylindricis c:a 63 fi crassis et 88 ft longis, orcubefor- 

 mibus c:a , 104 ft crassis et 157 ft longis, subirregularibus 121 ft crassis et 133 ft 

 longis; sporis terminalibus plerumque subconicis apice rotundato, raro orculsefbrmibus 

 sursum brevi-acuminatis apice subrotundato ; sporis subconicis c:a (33 1.1 crassis et 

 155 ft longis, orcubielbrmibus e:a 95 ft crassis et 148 ft longis.] 



Locality. Tins species is found in fresh water on Mangalore in Canara in 

 India, according to HoHENACKER 1. e. 



General Description. Fertile specimens. Cauloid part, In this many- 

 formed species we may distinguisb two types of ramification, one where only 

 the principal filament carries branches (which are consequently all of the l:st 

 degree), and one where the branches of the l:st degree are also ramified. In the 

 first type the branches are generally short and single (pi. 1, fig. 17); in the second, 

 the branches of the l:st degree are rather long and partly single, partly opposite 

 to each other in pairs, whilst the branches of the 2:d degree are short and single 

 (pi. 1, fig. 13). Connecting forms between the two types exist, however. Most fre- 

 quently the branches of this species are placed, as in the others, a space (however 

 small) below the top of the supporting cell, but not seldom the branches proceed 

 from the very top of their supporting cells (pi. 1, fig. 16, 17). Accessorial basal 

 branches are not rare, especially in specimens belonging to the second type of rami- 

 fication. Branchless cells in the principal filament are rare; even the top cells here 

 show, against the rule, now and then a tendency to ramify (pi. 1, fig. 17 ct). Only 

 one helicoi'd I have found. It was unbranched, and belonged to a branch of the 

 2:d degree. — The spores, which are in this species of several different forms, are 

 partly inclosed and partly terminal. The inclosed are of three principal forms, viz. 

 l:o cylindrical, 2:o cask-shaped, and 3:o of an irregular shape. As a 4:th kind 

 might be regarded the very short, half cask-shaped lower ones of the twin spores 

 (pi. 1, fig. 16 s"). The cylindrical, which are the most common, are found in 

 branches of the l:st and 2:d degfee (pi. 1, fig. 13), the cask-shaped in branches of 

 the list degree and more seldom in the principal filament (pi. 1, fig. 16); the irre- 

 gular in the principal filament (pi. 1, fig. 13). -The terminal spores are of two kinds: 

 l:o subcorneal with a rounded top (pi. 1, figs. 13, 15, 17), and 2:o cask-shaped and 

 abruptly narrowing towards the rounded top (pi. 1, fig. 14). The former is the 

 common form; the latter is rare. As I have already indicated, twin spores are not 

 seldom found. They are placed partly in the principal filament and partly in the 

 branches of the l:st degree. 



Rhizo'id part. Only in one of the examined specimens this part has been 

 preserved. It showed a very powerful development, being pericellular and spori- 

 ferous (pi. 4, fig. 19). 



Sterile specimens of this species would seem to be very rare. Among the 

 numerous specimens I have examined, I have found only one sterile. This one had 

 strong and opposite branches of the L:st degree, and short and single of the 2:d. 



