146 BRITISH SEA-WEEDS. 



hooked at the point ; these cilia frequently twine round 

 neighbouring sea-weeds, and connect them into an inextri- 

 cable taugle. Spores in spherical, stalkless conceptacles on 

 the sides of the cilia ; tetraspores oblong, zonate, embedded 

 in the cilia. 



This species is closely allied to the preceding, but 

 differs from it in being of a duller colour and more 

 flaccid substance, and in baving its tetraspores confined 

 to the cilia. It fruits and is in perfection in summer. 



Genus LIV. G-RACILAItlA. 



Frond thread-like or flat, of a horn-like, fleshy substance, 

 forked; the inner cells very large, empty, or full of granular 

 matter ; those of the surface minute, forming densely- 

 packed vertical threads. Fructification : — 1, spores formed 

 in the upper joints of densely- tufted, forked, necklace-like 

 threads, which radiate from a raised basal placenta, in hemi- 

 spherical or conical, stalkless conceptacles furnished with 

 a terminal pore ; 2, oblong, cruciate tetraspores scattered 

 amoug the surface cells of the branches and branchlets. — 

 Geacilaeia, from the Latin gracilis, slender. 



The species of this genus are widely dispersed, both 

 in warm and cold latitudes. They produce, when boiled, 

 a tasteless gelatine, which, when properly seasoned, is 

 palatable, and considered wholesome. 



Gracilaria multipartita. The much-divided 

 Gracilaria. 



Fronds four to twelve inches long, flat, varying from half 

 a line to half an inch in width, deeply cleft in an irregu- 

 larly-forked or palmate manner, with a thin, spreading disc- 

 root. Spores in large, conical conceptacles, which are de- 



