64 Lucas, Among the Seaweeds at Povtsea. [vo^'^^xxxvi 



At Portsea the Plocamiums were, as all along the ocean coast, 

 in great evidence, and are the plants most generally admired 

 by amateurs. Their fern-like shape and brilHant crimson 

 colour make them universal favourites. I gathered four species 

 at Portsea. To my surprise, P. Preissianmn, Sonder, segments 

 in threes, seemed to be the commonest. P. august urn (J. Ag.), 

 H. and H., was also abundant. P. Mertensii (Grev.), Harv., 

 with serrated segments, was more common than P. proceriim 

 (J. Ag.), Harv., with entire segments. Probably the two are 

 just forms of the same species. I did not meet with P. 

 coccineinn (Huds.), Lyngb., which is the common British species, 

 and occurs in most Antarctic dredgings, and is not uncommon 

 off southern Australia and Tasmania. I only saw one frag- 

 ment of P. costatiim (J. Ag.), H. and H., though it was plentiful 

 at Anglesea and Barwon Heads. I was very glad to obtain 

 specimens of Didyota nigricans, J. Ag. It seemed to be not 

 uncommon, and I had found it at Barwon Heads. I was also 

 lucky to secure a good plant of Bellotia eriophorinn, Harv., 

 showing its umbels of feathery, globular tassels. 



I made four trips to the Back Beach altogether, but, as I 

 did not expect, made more captures on the shore of the Bay. 

 Just below the fort I struck a small, low breakwater of big 

 stones which served to arrest and divert the incoming algse. 

 Here I found several algae of rarity and interest, including 

 Scinaia furcellata (Turn.), Bivon., Pollexfenia crispata (Zan.), 

 Falk., Binder a splachnoides, Harv., with a new Herposiphonia. 

 Cymodocea gave abundance of Dicranema Grevillei, Sond. — 

 an alga which never grows on anything else — of Pachydidyon 

 paniculatmn, J. Ag., and Lohospira hicuspidata, Aresch. Two 

 or three plants of Nitophylhnn Gunniamim, Harv., and dozens 

 of N. afflne, Harv., were thrown up, as also Champia affinis 

 (H. and H.), J. Ag., Wrangelia davigera, Harv., Haloplegma 

 Preissii, Sonder, Delisea elegans (Ag.), Mont., Crouania australis 

 (Harv.), J. Ag., and Mnellerena insignis (Harv.), De Toni. On 

 some rocks exposed at low water grew Hehninthora tumens, 

 J. Ag., and Ceramium davnlatum, Ag. In all, I collected over 

 100 species at Portsea. 



Victoria is singularly well off for algae. There is good 

 collecting in the Bay at Sandringham and \A'illiamstown, close 

 at hand ; and for a hohday in summer, when the algae are 

 fruiting, the whole coast of Bass Strait is a seaweed paradise. 

 Probably nowhere else in the world are the algae more numerous 

 in species and individuals. They are beautiful objects. There 

 is some sport in their capture, and the study of them, their 

 structure, and their physiology, throws striking light on tlie 

 nature of plant life in general. \\i\\ not some members of the 

 Club help by taking up the study ? 



