V. RIIODOMELACE.E. 23 



Fronds tufted, in our specimens about four inches high, but the full grown plant 

 is probably much taller, as thick as sparrow's quill or somewhat thicker, irregu- 

 larly branched, the branches alternate or unilateral, spreading at wide angles or 

 nearly at right angles to the point from whicli they si)ring, curving upwards and 

 bearing several irregularly placed, erect, secondary branches. These latter are 

 narrow-fusiform, one or two inches long, much constricted at the base, and taper- 

 ing to an acute point. Tliey are sometimes naked, but more commonly set with 

 small ramuli of similar sliape and one to three lines in length. The colour is a 

 dark, blackish purple. The subsftmce is firmly cartilaginous, and in drying the 

 plant adheres to paper. 



Our specimens, gathered early in January, are evidently immature, and therefore 

 this species must remain somewhat doubtfully characterised. I think it however 

 essentially different from any of those described in this memoir. Its nearest affinity 

 seems to be with Ch. capmsis (Harv. Ner. Austr. t. 31.) but in the absence of more 

 certain evidence, it would be premature to unite them. I find among Dr. Coulter's 

 Californian plants a Chondria which agrees in most respects with our Charleston 

 specimens, and may belong to the same species. But I am unfiling to confuse 

 the subject by quoting it under this species, or unnecessarily to add to the number 

 of species by describing it as different. I hope Prof. L. R. Gibbes, by visiting the 

 above locality a month or two later in the season, may succeed in finding more 

 complete specimens than we have yet procured. Among Dr. Blodgett's Key West 

 specimens are two, (No. 27 and 29) possibly referable to our Ch. atropurpurea, but, 

 for the reason just given, I forbear quoting them under it. One has large, ovate, 

 stalked conceptacles ; the other tetraspores in the ramuli. 



Plate XVIII. E. Fig. 1. Branch of Cuondria atropurpurea, the natural size. Fig. 

 2, small portion with ramuli, slightly magnified. Fig. 3. longitudinal section of 

 the stem, more highly magnified. 



V. RHODOMELA. Ag 



a' 



Frond filiform or subcompresscd, cartilaginous, decompound-pinnate, opaque, 

 densely ceUular witliin, coated with minute, polygonal, irregularly placed cells; 

 axis articulate, polysiphonous. Hamuli filiform. Conceptacles ovate, pedicellate or 

 sessile, containing within a membranous pericarp a tuft of pear-shaped spores on 

 simple funiculi radiating from a basal placenta. 'fetraspores immersed in the 

 swollen, ultimate divisions of the branches, rarely in proper sticliidia. 



The species included in this group are natives of the cooler portion of the tem- 

 perate zone, both of the northern and southern hemispheres. They are naturally 



