48 
valoniacej:. 
1. Blodgettia confervoides , Harv. (Tab. XLY. C.) 
Hab. At Key West, on rocks near low-water mark. Dr. Wur deman , W. H. H. 
Prof. Tuomey. (v. v.) 
Fronds filamentous, densely tufted ; the tufts spreading extensively, from an inch to 
an inch and half in height, very dense, pulvinate and fastigiate. Filaments rigid, not 
collapsing when removed from the water, about as thick as hog’s bristle, sparingly 
branched, decumbent at base, then ascending, and the tips erect. The main divisions 
and primary branches are very patent, either arching backwards or quite recurved. 
They are destitute of branches along their lower or outer side, and more or less furnished 
with unilateral ramification on the upper ; generally with a long excurrent point desti- 
tute of ramuli. Often the filament has but a single series of simple, secund ramuli ; 
but in luxuriant specimens there is a second series of similar secund ramuli. Articula- 
tions variable in length, dark coloured, with opaque dissepiments, and not collapsing 
when dry, contracted at the nodes, three to six times as long as broad ; the terminal 
cell always very much longer than the rest, and frequently 10-12 times as long as its 
diameter. Apices very blunt. The articulations are filled with dense, viscid endochrome 
full of large green granules, and frequently containing also prismatical crystals. The mem- 
branous cell- wall is divisible into three or more separate membranes, one concentrically 
placed within the other. The outer are hyaline without obvious structure ; but 
the inner one is reticulated with very slender nervelike fibres, which run longitudinally 
through the membrane parallel to each other, and are connected by oblique crossbars ; 
so that the surface is divided into narrow, pointed areolae. The spores are seriated in 
moniliform strings, four or more in each string, and attached to short free veinlets 
which issue from the veins of the inner cell-wall. The colour when recent is a very 
dark green ; Avhen dry it becomes more olivaceous. The substance is very firm, and 
the plant imperfectly adheres to paper in drying. 
Plate XLY. C. Fig. 1 . Blodgettia confervoides ; the natural size. Fig. 2. Pecti- 
nated branch. Fig. 3 . Apex of the long terminal cell of the branch, the lower portion 
represented with the outer cell-coats exfoliated. Fig. 4. Portion of the membrane of 
the innermost cell-coat traversed by slender fibres, bearing strings of spores (?). Fig. 5. 
One of the moniliform strings, apart. Fig. 6. Some of the crystals found in the cells. 
All the latter figures more or less highly magnified. 
IY. ANADYOMENE, Lamour. 
Root fibrous. Frond stipitate, membranaceous, leaf-like, flabellately veined ; the 
veins confervoid, radiating from the base to the margin, pedately multifid, excessively 
branched, and everywhere closely anastomosing. Fructification unknown. 
