CRYPTONEMIACEiE. 185 



Gigartina Teedii. Teed's Gigartina. 



Fronds from three to six inches long, growing several 

 together from the same base, much branched; stem flat, 

 about a quarter of au inch broad in the middle, tapering at 

 each end ; branches opposite or alternate, once or twice 

 pinijate, closely beset with short, spine-liise branchlets. 

 Spores in globose, stalkless conceptacles, seated on the 

 branches ; tetraspores in roundish sori, near the margin of 

 the frond. 



This is the most rare of all our native sea-weeds. 

 The habitat in Elberry Cove, Torbay, where it was first 

 discovered by Mrs. Griffiths, is the only one in this coun- 

 try that I am aware has been recorded. On the coast of 

 Normandy it is more abundant, and it is common in the 

 Mediterranean. It would tiius appear to have reached its 

 northernmost limit on our shores. It grows on rocks, at 

 or a little beyond extreme low-water mark, and is peren- 

 nial. When fresh, the plant is of a deep red colour, Avhich 

 in decay changes to a bright green. In drying, the frond 

 shrinks considerably, and does not adhere to paper. 



Gigartina mamillosa. The mamillose Gigartina. 



Stem linear, channelled ; fronds about six inches high, 

 growing in tufts, tan-shaped, divided into wedge-shaped, 

 cleft segments, with incurved margins, or sometimes nearly 

 linear throughout. Spores in ovate conceptacles, lodged in 

 mamilliform or filiform processes, which are thickly studded 

 over the surface of the frond. 



Most localities on our coast produce this species, 

 which grows near low-water mark in winter and spring, 

 and is perennial. When in fruit, the characters are 

 sufficiently distinct; but barren or narrow fertile spa- 



