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SPHÆ ROCOC C U S p o l y c a e p ü s .
Mwny-seeded Sphcerococcus.
C l a s s a n d O u d e i i CRYPTOGAMIA ALGÆ, im r e — N a t . O e d . ALGM, Jms.
De Cand.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Frons varia (plana, compressa vel cylindrica). Fructus, capsuke sphoericoe
nucleo globoso sporidiorum.
Frond various (plane, compressed or cylindrical). Fructification, spherical
capsules, containing a globular nucleus of sporidia.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
S p h æ r o c o c c u s p o l y c a r p u s ; fronde cartilagineo-memhranacea, plana, subdi-
chotome divisa, segmentis sublinearibus, ad apicem ladniatis, acutiusculis, capsulis
magnis immersis, in superfde frondis prominentibus.
S. frond cartilagineo-membranaceus, plane, subdichotomously divided, the
segments nearly linear, laciniate at the extremity, and somewhat acute,
capsules large, immersed, prominent on the surface of the frond.
H a b . In the sea. Under Tait’s Hill, near Plymouth, Miss H i l l : 1814.
Flool I have not seen. Frond plane, about seven inches in length, between
cartilaginous (or even coriaceous) and membranaceous, of a deep blackish
red at the base, becoming gradually paler upwards, and not having
any transparency till near the top ; the principal divisions appear to
commence near the base in a dichotomous manner, and are not more than
2-3 lines broad at the point of division ; they gradually dilate, however,
to several times that breadth before they divide again, which they do
very irregularly, becoming somewhat laciniate towards the extremity,
the laciniæ or ultimate divisions being rather acute. Capsules, which
are plentifully scattered over the whole frond, are as large as turnip
seed, dark red, and though prominent, immersed in the substance of
the frond. The structure of the frond a good deal resembles that of Ha-
lymenia palmata, but is much more dense.
It is much to be regretted that we are acquainted with only
a single specimen of this plant, and even that by no means in
a perfect condition. It is nevertheless sufficiently entire to ex