OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 
427 
higher developmental stage than the Nemastomaceae. From the first goni- 
moblast cell further thick, branched, gonimoblast filaments develop, and 
most of the cells form carpospores. The fusion cell formed between the 
compound filaments and the auxiliary cell becomes richly protoplasmic and 
forms a nutritive tissue for the gonimoblasts. The cortex over the gonimo- 
blasts is concentrated and somewhat swollen and forms the outer wall of 
the cystocarp. The gonimoblasts project from the nutritive tissue in the 
bottom of the cystocarp up into the central hollow space. 
Sebdenia Berthold. 
Family FURCELLARIACEAE. 
Both this family and the Solieriaceae have the ‘‘fountain” type of struc- 
ture, and in several respects form a natural evolutionary group. The initial 
cells of the central filament form a branched system of short filaments, 
which form the cortex. Rhizoids develop from the old cells of the cortex, 
and a transverse section of the leaf-like network of the old thallus shows 
a two or three layered cortex of closely packed cells and a medullary tissue 
of long filaments. 
The carpogonia and auxiliary cells are separated from each other, so 
that no procarp is formed. The first gonimoblast cell develops inwardly, 
forms a compound filament, and then more thick, branched, gonimoblast 
filaments. Generally all cells of the filaments form carpospores. The 
gonimoblasts lie between the inner cortex and the medulla. The cystocarps 
have no definite pore. 
Family SOLIERIACEAE Kylin 1932. 
Plant bushy or plane, subsimple or branched, developing with an axis 
of several filamentous initials, the medulla continuing clearly filamentous, 
the cortex obscurely so, appearing subparenchymatous with large cells 
within; tetrasporangia scattered at the surface, zonate; carpogenic branches 
of three or four cells borne on the inner cortex; auxiliaries more or less 
evident, scattered ; cystocarp showing a central fusion mass or sterile tissue, 
often a filamentous sheath with strands between the sheath and the central 
tissue, discharging by a pore. 
8 'olieria J. Ag. 
Family RISSOELLACEAE Kylin 1932. 
Thallus flat, leaf like, irregularly forked or lobed; procarp consisting of 
several carpogonial branches of from two to three cells, which arise from 
a basal cell, and one auxiliary cell with rich contents. A large irregular 
fusion cell develops in the centre of the gonimoblast, from the lobes of 
which proceed the branches bearing carpogonidia arranged in rows ; cysto- 
carp wall with a definite pore, the cystocarps being distributed over the 
L* 
