Rhodomelece.'] rhodomela. 285 



It is most abundant in Scotland ; very frequent on the coast 

 of Ayrshire^ where we have a variety of it richer than any I 

 have seen figured. The fronds of this variety are rather 

 more Kmber than the common kinds^ and the branches and 

 denticulations are smaller and more numerous, and more 

 closely arranged. In November, Odontlialia is very frequent 

 on the shore, finely dotted with fruit, which is very observ- 

 able, as the frond at this season is dark- colonized, and the 

 fresh ceramidia and stichidia are reddish-purple. In the 

 early part of the season, April and May, the young light- 

 brown fronds are intermingled with the old dark fronds. 

 The young fronds adhere well to paper ; the old have be- 

 come rigid, and do not adhere unless coaxed with a little 

 isinglass, or subdued by a hasty ducking in hot water. Dr. 

 Greville's Plate xiii. in Alg. Brit., and Professor Harvey's 

 Plate XXXIV. in Phyc. Brit., gave much insight as to the 

 structure and fructification. The colour of Plate xxxiv. is 

 bluer than the plant is with us. Mr. D. Turner's is too 

 brown. 



Genus LXXXII. EHODOMELA, Agardh. 



Gen. Char. Frond cylindrical or compressed, fihform, much 

 branched, coriaceo-cartilaginous (the apex sometimes involute). 



