RED ALG^. 179 



portions of the surface of the frond. This is an un- 

 mistakable mark of the species. The thickened stem 

 divides and forms midribs or veins in the lower 

 divisions of the frond. These, however, soon dis- 

 appear upward. The color is a dark red with a shade 

 of purple. Substance, somewhat rigid. It does not 

 adhere well to paper. It is among the commonest 

 of plants along the whole coast, and must be one of 

 the finest features of a fine flora. 



NiTOPHYLLUM FLABELLIGERUM,* AG. 



This is another large plant growing a foot or more 

 high, and spreading as wide. In general habit it very 

 much resembles the last species, but differs in lacking the 

 fringe of minute leaflets upon the edge of the lobes. 

 It is also more widely divided in the palmate frond, 

 the lobes are more numerous, more wedge-shaped, 

 shorter and narrower. From a flattened stem, one 

 to four inches long, the frond spreads, by repeated 

 forkings and dividings, into many segments with 

 rounded tops. Large, dark, fruit dots are scattered 

 over the surface of the fertile fronds. It appears to 

 to be a native of the northern shores, as I have not 

 received it from any locality south of Santa Cruz. 



• Flabelligerum = Fan-shaped. 



