Halophila Aschersonii, n. sp. 



By 



C. H. Ostenfeld. 



Halophila Ascher sonii, n. sp. Rhizome creeping, with scales 

 in pairs. Shoots erect, issuing from the upper scale of each pair; one 

 pair of scales on the middle of the shoots and on the top two pairs of 

 leaves forming a verticillaster or false whorl; a rhizome of lower order 

 issues often from the base of the upper scale of the shoots. Leaves 

 shortstalked, petiole about Va — V2 of the leaf, lamina simple, elliptic, 

 8 — 15 mm. long, 4— 7mm. broad, with finely dentate margin, 

 one midvein and two veins within the margins connected with 3 — 5 pairs 

 of transversal veins. Only the female plant is known, female flower 

 terminal, sessile, with a spathe formed by two perfoliate, acute bracts, 

 ovary globose with a 5 mm. long linear upper part, sepals very minute, 

 stigmas 3, linear, 15 — 20 mm. long, with rather conspicuous papillae. 



Habitat. \) West-Indies: St. Croix, the lagoon of Ghristianssted, 

 creeping in mud at about 1 Meter's depth together with H. Baillonis Aschs., 



Halophila Aschersonii Ostf. — Natural size. 



February 26, 1892, collected by H. Lassen. 2) Between algae from St. Croix 

 collected in 1896 by F. Börgesen. 3) Also older specimens of this plant 



Botanisk Tidsskrift. 24. Bind. 16 



