AMONGST THE SEAWEEDS. 27 



included. The many-tubed Polysiphonia, whose 

 fronds are made up of thread-like tubular cells, is 

 well worth microscopical examination. There are a 

 score of British species, and many more on other 

 shores. Laurencia is abundant near low-water 

 mark, and is of a deep red colour. The Coral weed, 

 Corallina, has jointed pinnate fronds, and should 

 be sought for in the deeper pools. Young and 

 healthy specimens are 

 dark purple, but as picked 

 up they are usually 

 white. This is a very 

 curious plant, and scarcely 

 looks like a plant, being- 

 pointed, and clad with a 

 coating of carbonate of 

 lime. If a portion be 

 placed in acid, the mineral 

 will dissolve, and the real 

 plant structure be plainly 

 discerned. Nitophyllum^ 

 or Shining Leaf, is a very 



. ,, ,;. FiG.Q.Plocamiumcoccineum. 



fine weed, especially J\. 

 punctatum, and may easily be found. 



One of the commonest, and at the same time one 

 of the prettiest, of the red seaweeds is the one called 

 Plocamium (Fig. 6). Its popular name is the Braided- 

 hair weed; indeed, plokamos means braided hair. Its 

 colour is a delicate pinky red. On account of its 

 elegant form and beautiful colour, it is one of the 

 chief favourites of those who arrange seaweed 

 ornaments. Although it lives beyond the shore- 



