RED ALG^. 197 



This species is distributed along the whole Cali- 

 fornia coast, is well marked, and, from its outward 

 resemblance to Fikea, as well as by its own pecu- 

 liarities, it will not be difficult to determine. 



It has a coarse, tough, leathery frond, narrow, 

 flattened, profusely and irregularly branched from its 

 edges, in a way quite impossible to describe, and 

 yet easy enough to recognize when once seen. It 

 grows to a height of from eight to twelve inches, 

 aud has a lateral spread of branches quite equal to 

 that. 



Most of the fronds have a well-developed leading 

 stem, though in some it is lost midway in the mul- 

 titude of branches which spread out each side. 

 Neither stem nor long branches are ever over one- 

 eighth of an inch wide, thickened in the middle, 

 roughened, often toothed along the edges. 



The branches and branchlets are all tapered 

 towards the base, and mostly pointed at the top. 

 The ultimate branchlets and ramuli, which are from 

 one-half inch to one inch long, show a decided 

 tendency to bend inward towards one edge like a 

 sabre. 



The color is a very dark red, turnmg almost 

 black in drying. It does not very closely adhere to 

 paper. 



