(136) 



sisting of five to six short, iuciirved, tooth-like ramiili, scarcely longer 

 than the favellsa Substance gelatinous, very flaccid, and closely adhering 

 to paper. Tetraspores clustered in dense sessile whorls, round the apices 

 of the middle articulations, the whole surrounded by an involucre 

 of six to eight spines, similar to those of the favellse : they are obpyri- 

 form or obovate, scarcely stalked and tripartite. Colour, a deep trans- 

 parent crimson red, rapidly discharged in fresh water, by the bursting of 

 the tubes. 



This handsome species is said to be of not unfrequent occurrence on 

 all the British shores, and seems to have all but a cosmopolitan dis- 

 tribution. 



It is one of the earliest observed species, and figures conspicuously in 

 all the older works on sea-weeds, from its bright colours and large and 

 distinctly marked articulations. It is said not to be unfrequent on the 

 shores of Ireland, and is represented, as Dr. Harvey informs us {Phyc. 

 Brit.), by a gigantic form, which he considers a variety of the present, in 

 Tasmania. 



It should be looked for in deep, clear rock-pools near low-water mark, 

 where its bright colours and rather stout articulate fronds will readily 

 betray its presence. It is readily distinguished from the last species liy 

 its larger size, thicker stems, and the clavate articulations, but still 

 better by the single- jointed tooth-like ramuli of the involucres, and the 

 lateral favellfe. The resemblance of the articulations to those of Coral- 

 liiia has not inaptly suggested the specific name, but with stony species 

 its soft and delicate fronds are not likely otherwise to be confounded. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE CXIII. 



Fig. 1. — Griffithsia corallina, natural size. 

 2. — Branclilet with tetraspores. 

 3. — Tetrasports. 

 4. — Brancblet with favellas, 

 5. — Joint with same. 

 6. — Favell;>3. All magnified. 



