similar but smaller cells of variable thickness surrounds these, and connects 

 them with the coloured, peripheric cellules. The colour, when fresh, is a 

 dull brownish-red ; becoming much darker and browner in drying. The 

 substance is rigid, and the frond adheres very imperfectly to paper in di-ying. 



A coarse-growing, rigid plant, very subject to be overgrown 

 by parasites, and especially by a crustaceous species of Melobesia, 

 which sometimes invests every twig and ramulus in a calcareous 

 sheath. I formerly placed it in Alsidium, judging more by ex- 

 ternal marks than by any positive character ; but on reconsidera- 

 tion there seems no valid reason (the fruit being unknown) why 

 it should not be placed in Bhodomela, with which the habit and 

 structure sufficiently agree. The peculiarly short, subulate ra- 

 muh, and an imperfectly seen transverse striolation, had formerly 

 induced me to refer it to Alsidium. The genus to which it truly 

 belongs cannot positively be known till its tetrasporic fruit shall 

 be found. 



It is not uncommon in Western Australia. 



Fig. 1. Ehodomela? spinulosa, — the natural size. 2. A small branch, — slightly 

 magnified. 3. Hamuli from the same. 4. Transverse section of branch : — 

 more highly magnified. 



