RED ALG^. 215 



generally uninteresting plant. It grows everywhere 

 along our eastern coast, but more plentiful, I think, 

 in our northern waters. At least, my correspondents 

 so report it. It grows between tides, on the rocks, 

 in tide pools, and in deep water. 



The main stem runs through the whole plant, 

 thick as a match, somewhat translucent and fleshy, 

 a foot or so high, when full grown. It is irregularly 

 much branched all around, with branches which are 

 themselves branched like the main stem. The ultimate 

 branches are somewhat narrowed at the base, and 

 attenuated into acute points, and sometimes into 

 long, slender, hair-like prolongations at the top. 



In variety cirrhosa, these attenuated ramuli have 

 the habit of twisting themselves into spirals, like the 

 tendrils of the pea or grape vine, and wind them- 

 selves about the branches of neighboring plants, quite 

 after the manner of their more cultivated cousins, the 

 vines. The variety, is perhaps quite as common as 

 the normal form on our shores, and will be likely 

 first to attract the notice of the attentive eye, to 

 the species. 



Much trimming will be needed to make the plant 

 presentable on paper. The color varies from a light 

 red brown to a dark purple, or even black, when dry. 

 You will often find that the lesser branches are much 



