Ser. Rhodosperme^. Furii. RJmlomdaccce. 



Plate CCXXXVI. 



RYTIPHLCEA ELATA, liaw. 



Gen. Char. Frond compressed or terete, dendroid, pinnate, transversely 

 striate, corticated ; the axis articulated, composed of a circle of large 

 oblong cells surrounding a central cell ; the periphery of several rows 

 of small, angular, (raostlv) coloured cells. Fructijication: 1, ovate cera- 

 mid'ia, containing a tuft of pear-shaped spores; 3, st'ichulia containing 

 tripartite tetraspores. — Eytiphlcea {^ff-), from pvri'i, a v)nnMe, and 

 c})Xoio<i, bark ; because the surface is transversely furrowed or striate. 



Frons compressa v. teres, dendroidea, pinnathn composita, transversim rugnloso- 

 strinta, areolata, axi ariiculato ex celluUs obloiigis magnh pluribus cellnlum 

 centralem chigeutibus coriflato percursa ; strata peripherico celhdis pturiserlatis 

 angidatis cortlcata. Fruct.: 1, ceramidia ; 2, sllclddia propria scepms sim- 

 plicia, tetrasporas biseriatas includentia. 



Rytiphlcea elata ; tree-like (1-2 feet high) ; stem terete, very thick (2-3 

 lines in diameter), opaque, branched ; branches decompound, much 

 branched, di-trichotomous or irregularly divided, the smaller branches 

 and ramuli spreading, transversely striate ; striae very close ; axils wide ; 

 ceramidia ovate, on long pedicels ; stichidia tufted, on the sides of 

 the ramuli; primary siphons 5-6, large; cortical stratum thick, of 

 minute cellules. 



E. elata ; dendroidea (\-^-pednlis) ; caule tereti crassissimo (2-^ lineas dia- 

 metro) opaco ramoso ; ramis decomposito-ramosissimis di-trichotomis v. vage 

 divisis, minoribns rarmdisque patentibus transversim striatis ; striis approxi- 

 matis ; axillis latissimis ; ceruniidiis ovatis longiuscule pedicellatis ; stichidiis 

 ad tatera ramulorum fascicidatis ; siphonibus priinariis 5-6 magnis ; strata 

 corticali crasso, cellulis minutis multiseriatis constitnto. 



Eytiphl(EA elata, Harv. in Trans. R. I. Jcad. v. 22. p. 538. Harv. Jig. 

 Austr. Exsic. n. 135. 



Rhodomela elata, Sand, in Linn. v. 25. p. 699. 

 Hab. Cast ashore at Lefebre Peninsula, Dr. F. Mueller ! Port Philip 

 Heads, Dr. Mueller and IF. H. H. Premantle, W. IL H. and G. 



Clifton. 



Geogr. Distr. Western and southern coasts of Australia. 



Descr. Root a large bulbous disc or tuber. Frond 1-2 feet or more in height, 

 tlie stem and larger branches 3-2 lines in diameter, the secondary branches 

 \-\ line, excessively branched and bushy or dendroid. Stem simple or forked 

 or irregularly divided ; its divisions supporting decompound di-trichotomous 

 or alternately divided heads of branches. Lateral branches G-8 inches long, 

 sometimes laxly, sometimes very densely ramuliforous ; the ramuli either 



