| Diagnosis |
Colonies consisting either of incipient stems or of a mass composed of numerous tangled stems and branches forming a mesh of up to 6 cm in diameter. Branching frequent, irregular and in several planes; sometimes alternate, but in two planes making an acute angle. Branches originating laterally at the hydrothecal base; plane formed by hydrothecae of lower-order branch perpendicular to that formed by hydrothecae of previous branch. Frequently, stem bent and giving rise to branches alternately arranged in two planes making an acute angle. Branches occasionally forming anastomosing stolons. Stem and branches divided into internodes; length of intenodes decreasing distally. Hydrothecae alternately arranged, curved abcaudally, with a distinct inflexion point where the adcauline wall becomes free. Hydrotheca adnate to internode for more than half of its adcauline wall. Free part of adcauline hydrothecal wall straight or slightly convex. Abcauline wall slightly concave. Hydrothecal aperture directed up- and outwards. Rim of hydrothecal aperture provided with three blunt cusps; the adcauline cusp slightly curved adcaudally at its distal extremity. Gonothecae oval, inserting at hydrothecal base. Gonothecal wall folded, forming a distinct keel descending in seven to ten turns. Gonotheca distally provided with a long, funnel-shaped neck bearing the gonothecal aperture and projecting far above cavity formed by the first turn of the keel. |