OLIVE COLORED ALGAZ. 105 



arch the top of the frond. Neither stem nor 

 branches are ever larger than a pack-thread, and 

 commonly not half so large. The leading stem 

 ascends half-way or more, through the whole length 

 of the plant. The branches put out very irregularly 

 all around ; sometimes scattered, sometimes much 

 crowded, sometimes short, but more often long and 

 bent inward, as indicated above. It grows upon 

 shells, stones, rocks and other Algae, to which it is 

 fastened by a minute disk. The substance of the 

 frond is cartilaginous, tough and elastic. When 

 taken from the water it will be decidedly slippery 

 to the touch, and when carried home and removed 

 from the mass of plants in the collecting case, it 

 will be found to be not a little slimy. It will be 

 quite sure to stain the cloth used in pressing and 

 drying it, and, perhaps, also the paper on which it 

 is mounted, a dark, brownish color. It is an annual, 

 and grows between tides, not usually over a foot 

 high, and the old fronds will be quite certain to be 

 infested with some species of Ectocarpus, 



Chordaria divaricata, Ag. 



The widely branched Chordaria is a deep-wat^r 

 plant and may be collected along our whole coast, 

 from New York to Gloucester, and probably farther 



