I
u i
is slightly produced beyond them, forming an oblique mucro ; their walls
very thick, the inner portion formed of largish, polygonal cells, the outer
of a stratum of closely packed vertical filaments. A very dense, broad,
more or less clearly defined, sometimes obsolete mid-rib runs through the
substance of the frond, and faint lateral, oblique veins proceed from it ;
both formed of elongated, cylindrical cellules, disposed in longitudinal
fibres. The cells composing the middle stratum of the frond arc polygonal,
gradually becoming smaller outwards ; and those of the periphery are very
miuute, and arranged in closely packed, vertical filaments. Colour a fine
scarlet pink, dark in the main branches. Substance cartilaginous, imperfectly
adhering to paper in drying.
In reforming the genus Splicerococcus, which, in the work of
Agardh included a large number of species now dispersed into
many genera, and many of which had little in common with each
other except the spherical fruit. Dr. Greville confined the amended
genus to the S. coronopifolius and to 8. crinitus, Gm. The first
of these, being the best known, is to be considered the type.
Its structure is peculiar ; under a pocket lens may be observed
running through the branches the faint appearance of a mid-rib,
connected with the margin by oblique lateral veins, both of which
were first observed by Mr. Sowerby. By making a transverse
section, and applying a more powerful glass, this venation is seen
to be caused by an internal rib, composed of denser and more
elongated cells than the rest of the frond ; and if the internal
structure of the frond afibrds, in the Blorideae, the surest generic
characters, the presence of such a rib ought to be essential to the
genus. Judged by this rule, my 8. australis (Harv. in Hook.
Bond. Journ. vol. iii. p. 445), notwithstanding that outwardly it
bears a close resemblance to 8. coronopifolius, must be removed
from the genus, its internal structure being extremely lax, and
more hke that of Gracilaria, a group which, if allowed to retain
all the species which seem disposed to drop into it, will soon be
as anomalous as 8phoerococcus was formerly.
8. coronopifolius appears to have been first noticed by Ray, in
whose Synopsis ’ it is described. It is said to be unknown on
the eastern coast of England. In Ireland it is more common,
and is found at both sides of the island. In Scotland it is
extremely rare.
Kg. 1. S p h æ e o c o c c u s c o r o n o p i f o l i u s :— natural size. 2 . Portion of a
branchlet. 3. Section of a tubercle. 4. Spores. 5. Cross section of a
main branch, in its lower part. 6. Longitudinal section of the same -.— ail
more or less highly fytnnMHaY}
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