RED ALG^. 159 



of Brooklyn, as early as March 27th. Var. gracilis 

 is more common in our northern waters, and ap- 

 proaches more nearly the typical form. The speci- 

 mens in my herbarium are of a rich, slightly reddish 

 brown color. Whoever will take the trouble to look 

 for this plant in the early spring, will find it one 

 of the most beautiful of our marine flora. 



Rhodomela larix,* Ag. 



This and the next species grow on the California, 

 and north western coast. R. larix is an arctic 

 species which has made its way as far south as 

 Santa Cruz and Monterey, but appears south of there, 

 only as a rarity. It has been found at Santa Bar- 

 bara, by Mrs. Bingham, in May ; and in January 

 and March, by Mr. Cleveland, thrown up from deep 

 water at La Jolla Point, San Diego. It was brought 

 from Nootka Sound, by Menzies, more than three- 

 quarters of a century ago, and described and fig- 

 ured by Turner, in his unequalled " Historia 

 Fucorum." Dr. Anderson reports it as very plen- 

 tiful at Santa Cruz, and northward, growing there 

 at all seasons, on the shelving rocks of soft sand- 

 stone or shale. 



The frond is robust, cylindrical, thick as a 



Larix = Laic 



