Two New Species of Marine Algce. 149 



an inch in width, even and entire at the margin, rounded at the 

 extremity. The frond is furnished, at the base, with an obscure 

 midrib, which soon disappears. Towards the extremity, and 

 from the disk of the primary frond, arise one or more others, 

 which are supported upon a very short stem, so that the entire 

 plant is sometimes composed of three series, the second and third 

 being proHferous. Fructification, spherical capsules, produced 

 in clusters on the disk of the frond, and supported on little folia- 

 ceous processes. Seeds, minute, irregular, angular ; escaping by 

 a pore at the summit of the capsule. Substance, thin, but rather 

 rigid and cartilaginous. Colour, a fine purplish, somewhat tran- 

 sparent, but dull red ; which soon fades, and leaves the plant of 

 a yellowish white. 



PI. 4:. fig. 1. — The extremity of one of the main divisions of 

 the frond. 2. Portion of a frond, with clusters of capsules ; 

 natural size. 3. Foliaceous processes which support the capsules. 

 4. A capsule divided. 3. Seeds ; magnified. 



This extremely beautiful alga, which was recently communi- 

 cated to me by Mr Bowie, the collector of objects in natural 

 history at the Cape of Good Hope, appears to be undescribed, 

 and to belong very satisfactorily to my genus Phyllophora. As 

 in the other species, the frond is extended by new shoots from 

 the surface of the old one ; the stem which, in the form of an 

 obscure nerve, passes into the lower part of the frond, soon 

 entirely disappears ; and the fructification is situated on minute 

 foliaceous processes. In regard to its general outline, this species 

 is ipxtremely similar to my Rhodomenia palmata, (Halymenia 

 pali^ata, Ag.) 



! Rytiphl-ssa, — Ag. 



R. canaliculata ; fronde cartilaginea, transversim dense striata* 

 costata, bi-tripinnata, pinnis linearibus, canaliculatis. 



Hab. On the coast of Swan River Settlement, New Holland. 

 Fraser. 



Root, a cartilaginous disk, throwing out a few short fibres. 

 Frond, tufted, and bushy, seven or eight inches long, much 

 branched, the principal branches twice or thrice pinnate, furnished 

 with a stout midrib, which disappears towards the extremity. 

 Pinnce, linear, about two lines wide, somewhat narrower at their 

 insertion, obtuse at the apex, mostly opposite and spreading, 

 the margins rigidly incurved, so as to render the whole frond 

 channeled. Besides the distichous branches or pinnae, there 

 are others which arise from the midrib on each surface of the 

 lower part of the frond. The transverse striae are very conspi- 

 cuous under a small magnifier, when the plant is in a dry state — 

 far less so when moist. Fructification, unknown, unless minute 

 clusters of lanceolate processes, arising from the incurved margin, 

 be regarded as such. Substance, thick and cartilaginous, very 

 rigid when dry. Colour, a dull deep red, changing to black on 

 exsiccation. 



