CRYPTONEMIACEjE. 181 



tendrils, which coil round the stems of neighbouring 

 plants. 



Genus LXXXI. CALLOPHYLLIS. 



Frond fleshy, membranaceous, blood-red, flat, forked, 

 formed of two strata of cells ; the inner stratum of large, 

 roundish cells, each of which is surrounded by a network 

 of cellules ; the outer, or cortical stratum of vertical, neck- 

 lace-like filaments. Spores minute, arranged in masses, 

 several of which ace enclosed in a thick pericarp, in concep- 

 tacles immersed in the mnrgin ; tetraspores cruciate, im- 

 mersed in the frond. — CALLOPHrLLis,from the Greek kalos, 

 beautiful, and phyllon, a leaf. 



The plants which compose this genus were formerly 

 included among the Rhodymenice, which they much re- 

 semble in external appearance, but from which they 

 differ in the structure of the frond, and the arrangement 

 of the spores. They are chiefly natives of warm climates, 

 and are remarkable for their handsome fronds, which 

 are usually of a bright red colour. 



Callophyllis laciniata. The jagged Callophyllis. 



Frond fleshy, of a bright red colour, fan-shaped or some- 

 times palmate, cleft into numerous, broad, wedge-shaped 

 segments, which are again forkedly divided ; the margins are 

 sometimes proliferous, and those of fertile specimens are 

 curled, and fringed with minute leaflets. Spores minute, in 

 conceptacles lodged in the marginal leaflets ; tetraspores 

 tripartite or cruciate, arranged in cloudy patches in the sub- 

 stance of the frond. 



This species is subject to many variations of form, but 

 i3 always conspicuous for its biilliant colour. It is found 



N * 



