RED ALG^. 223 



times simple, and sometimes forked, from one to three 

 inches long, and from one-eighth to one-third of an 

 inch wide. 



Both the main frond and the leaflets are covered 

 with a profusion of the stout spinose, or papillose 

 processes peculiar to the genus. Color, a dark red, 

 brown, or purple. It grows from six to twelve inches 

 high, upon the rocks, between tides, and below, at all 

 seasons. Dr. Dimmick and Mrs. Bingham report it 

 very common at Santa Barbara, upon the rocks near 

 shore. But Mr. Cleveland at San Diego, and Dr. 

 Anderson at Santa Cruz, find it not so plentiful as 

 the last, or the next species. 



GiGARTINA MICROPHYLLA,* HaRV. 



The most characteristic difference between this 

 plant and the two preceding species, is its much 

 lighter and thinner frond, and its slenderer, spore- 

 bearing spines. It rises fr9m a disk by a flattened 

 short stem, which more or less rapidly expands into 

 a wide, thin, flat frond. This remains simple or else 

 divides into two or three segments, each of which 

 tapers into a long, slender, pointed apex. This atten- 

 uation of the plant at the top, seems to be character- 

 istic of the species. It is thickly covered with the 



Microphylla =; Small-leaved. 



