(146) 



and reticulated with the small quadrate cells. In winter these ramelli 

 mostly disappear, becoming abraded, and the naked fronds become 

 covered with scattered, cylindrical or somewhat fusiform ramuli, which 

 bear the "utricles" on little stalks arising from their sides; they are 

 broadly elliptical, surrounded with a pellucid limbus. " The apices of 

 the summer ramuli are frequently distended and sphacelate, and contain 

 a dark mass, which may be possibly also connected with reproduction." 

 — Phyc. Brit. Substance cartilaginous, not adhering to paper. Colour 

 dark brownish olive. 



A very distinct plant in the family to which it belongs ; common on 

 the British shore, but apparently more so in the south than the north. 



The fructification above described is considered by Professor Harvey 

 and other British botanists as the true fruit, whereas he informs us that 

 Italian botanists consider this as a parasite. The structitre, however, of 

 its ramuli, and of the fruit itself, is so similar to that of the plant, and, 

 as Professor Harvey observes, is so exactly what, from analogy, we shotJd 

 expect on the plant, that we can see no good reason for considering it 

 other than the fruit of the Cladostephus. The sphacelate apices of the 

 ramuli, mentioned in Phyc. Brit, we have not observed, but as the 

 structm'e of the ramuli is not very widely different from that of Spha- 

 celaria, in which this character is sometimes largely developed, it is 

 nothing wonderful if it should occur in the present genus, whether it be 

 or be not connected with the fructification. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE CLXIX. 



Fig. 1. — Cladostephus verticillatus, natural size. 

 2. — Portion of a brancli. 

 3. — A ramnlus. 



4. — Sphacelate apex of a ramulus. 

 5. — Accessary fruiting ramulus. 

 6. — Utricle in situ. All magnified. 



