Ser. RHODOsPERMEiE. Fam. Uhodomelacea. 



Plate XXVII. 



RYTIPHLCEA AUSTRALASICA, Endl 



Gen. Char. Frond compressed or terete, dendroid, pinnate, transversely 

 striate, corticated ; the axis articulated, composed of a circle of large 

 oblong cells surrounding a central cell ; the periphery of several rows 

 of small, angular, (mostly) coloured cells. Fructification: 1, ovate cera- 

 midia containing a tuft of pear-shaped spores ; 2, sticliidia containing 

 tripartite tetraspores. — Rytiphlcea (Ag.), from pvrts, a wrinkle, and 

 §\oio<;, hark ; because the surface is transversely furrowed or striate. 



From compressa v. teres, dendroidea, p'mnatim composita, transversim ruguloso- 

 striata, areolata, axi articulate ex cellulis oblongis magnis pluribus cellulam 

 centralem cingentibus conjtato percursa ; strato peripherico cellulis pluriseriatis 

 angulatis corticata. Fruct. : 1, ceramidia ; 2, sticliidia propria scepius sim- 

 plicia, tetrasporas biseriatas inchidentia. 



Rytiphlcea australasica ; frond slender, compressed, decompound-pinnate, 

 laxly much branched ; the pinnae and pinnules opposite (or, by occa- 

 sional suppression, alternate), subdistant, filiform, very patent, often 

 hooked at the point ; the costa distinct ; sticliidia in opposite fascicles, 

 circinate, fusiform. 



K. australasica ; fronde tenui compressa decomposite pinnata laxe ramosis- 

 sima ; pinnis pinnulisque scepius oppositis nunc vagis remotiusculis jiliformi- 

 bus, patent issim is apice hamatis ; costa conspicua; sticJiidiis fusiformibus apice 

 involutis oppositis scepe fasciculatis simplicibus ramosisve. 



Rytiphlcea australasica, Endl. 3rd Suppl.p. 48. Harv. Ner. Austr.p. 32. 

 Harv. Alg. Exsic. Austr. n. 134. 



Rhodomela australasica, Mont. Canar.p. 54, in note. 



Halopithys australasica, Kiltz. Sp. Alg. p. 841. 



Hab. Cast ashore from deep water. Very abundant along the western 

 and southern shores of Australia. Tasmania, Labillardiere, C. 

 Stuart. 



Geogk. Distr. As above. 



Descr. Root branching. Fronds 4-10 inches long, densely tufted, \ line or 

 rather more in diameter, compressed, very much branched ; the ramification 

 normally opposite but frequently irregular. The main branches are often 

 longer than the stem and spread horizontally ; they are set throughout, at 

 short distances, with opposite, very patent, virgate secondary branches ; and 

 these often bear a third or fourth series of similar, but smaller, branchlets. 

 All the divisions taper at the base, and are attenuated to the point, 

 which is often incurved or hooked. The cells composing the peripheric 



