are globose, on cylindrical, short or long peduncles, and are generally placed 

 two or three together, near the base of the penicillate branchlets ; they con- 

 tain a very large nucleus, of dark red colour, consisting of pear-shaped 

 spores on branching spore-threads. The colour is a pale or bright purplish 

 rose-red, fading to orange and yellow, and turning rather darker, or brownish 

 in drying. The substance is very soft and flaccid, but not gelatinous, and 

 bears immersion in fresh-water for a considerable time without injury. In 

 drying the frond adheres closely to paper. 



A very abundant species along the whole southern coast, often 

 growing about the edge of low-water, though occurring in 

 greater plenty and luxuriance at a greater depth, whence it is 

 cast ashore in large, tangled tufts. It is much less robust, and 

 much more copiously branched than A. Sanfordiana (Tab. VI.), 

 of a paler colour, and the ends of the branches (taken with rela- 

 tion to the ramuli that clothe them) are more taper and acute 

 or acuminate. A characteristic feature also of our present plant 

 is the numerous naked lower branches set with retrorse hooks, 

 by which it lays hold on neighbouring Algse, and w^hich cause 

 the fronds in large tufts to become intricately connected together. 

 Perhaps it should be regarded more as an exaggerated form of 

 A. Belilei, with which I formerly confounded it, than as a dis- 

 tinct species. However this may be, it is unquestionally dis- 

 tinct from A. Sanfordiana, of which species I have recently re- 

 ceived from Mr. Clifton magnificent specimens, much finer than 

 those figured. 



Fig. 1. AsPAKAGOPSis AEMATA, — the natural size. 2. Base of one of the peni- 

 cillate branchlets, with a ceramidium and one of the pinnules. 3. Spores : — 

 both magnijied. 



