30. BALLIA, Han.
1. Ballia Brunonis, Harv., in Hook. Journ. of Bot. vol. ii. p. 191. Sphacelaria callitricha, Agardh Ic. Alg. Bwrojp. t. 6. Ballia callitricha, Mont. Voy. an Pole Sitd, Bot. Crypt, p. 94.
Var. /3, Hombroniana. B. Hombroniana, Mont. Prodr. Phyc. Anlarct. p. 9. Toy. au Pole Sud, Bot. Crypt, p. 95. 1. 12. f. 1.
Hab. Lord Auckland's group and Campbell's Island ; on the roots and stems of large Alga, abundant. Caulis in exeinplaribus Aucklandieis 2 unc. altus, seta porcina duplo crassior, Lirtus, vage ramosus, di-trichotomus ; ramis priniariis apice flabellatim ramidosis, circumscriptione rotundatis, fastigiatis, 3-5 lobatis. Hamuli bi-tripinuati, pinnulis subremotis acirtis. ArticuU pinnaruin diarnetro duplo vis triplo lougiores, ovato-oblougi, rarius oylindracei, apice angustati, pinnularum sesqui-lorigiores, ovati. Substantia rigida, cornea. Color purpureo-roseus.
The Auckland's group specimens appear to belong chiefly to the B. Hombroniana of Montague, a native of Akaroa[1], on the middle island of New Zealand; they differ from those of Tasmania and the Falklands in being shorter and of a denser habit, in having longer articulations to the pinnae and pinnules, and in the latter being generally only twice pinnated, with the ultimate pinnules separated and remote, like the teeth of a comb. Kerguelen's Land individuals connect these fomis. We have examined several hundreds of specimens, from seven or eight different localities in the Antarctic Ocean, without being able to trace any constant specific distinction amongst them; the same individual often bears both bipinnate and tripinnate fronds, with the segments remote or approximated; the length of the articulations and their form, and the outline of the branches from broadly ovate to linear-lanceo- late are equally variable characters. We can, however, well understand Montagne's drawing a different conclusion from an examination of but few specimens of the extremes.
31. PTILOTA, Agardh.
1. Vtilota formosisshiui, Mont., caule ancipiti compresso costa articulata percurso vage ramoso decomposite pimiato, pinnis valde insequalibus pinnulisque alternis patentibus idtimis serratis, favelhs sessilibus, involucri foliis pinnatifhlis, sphserosporiis marginabbus pedicellatis. Pt. formosissinia, Mont. Prodr. Phyc. Ant. p. 8. Toy. au Pole Sud, Bot. Crypt, p. 98. t. 9. f. 3. (Tab. LXXVI1.)
Hab. Lord Auckland's group; abundant.
Radix callus exiguus. Frondes aggregate, 6-10 unc. longoe, 4-6 lata;, flabelliformes. Caulis (Jugamentum Ag.) basi teres, mox plano-compressus, linearis v. utrinque subattenuatus, - lin. latus, distiche ramosissimus. Pinna unc. longae, alternse, pinnatse v. bipinnate ; pinnulis brevibus, alternis, patentibus, serratis v. pectinatis, apice subacutis. Favella sessiles, involucro quadrifotiato pectinato cinctse, sphsericae, sporis minutis angulatis farctas. Splicer osporm marginales, pedicellate, globosse, demum 4-pai-titae. Color amame puniceus. Substantia cartilaginea, firma. — Charte laxe adhseret.
We have numerous specimens of this magnificent plant in the most perfect state of fructification. The favella?, involucred with four regularly pectinated bracteae, are striking objects under the lens. The stem is not strictly articulate, in our specimens at least, but traversed by a strong raised articulated mid-rib, most evident on the old frond and occupying one-third of the breadth of the stem. The surface cellules, like those of other parts of the frond, are
minute, but internally divided by transverse diaphragms into a series of cells full of gelatiue, whose walls are formed of jointed fibres.
- ↑ "Insula Leyden, Batavia," is also given as a habitat (in Voy. au Pole Sud) probably erroneously, for the genus has not hitherto been found to the northward of the 40th degree of south latitude.
