142 THE MARINE BOTANIST. 



lime is deposited in an organized form. Tetra- 

 spores tufted, contained in ovate or spherical con- 

 eeptacles {ceramidid), furnished with a terminal 

 pore." 



Until lately these stone-encrusted sea-weeds were 

 associated with the Zoophytes and Corals, produc- 

 tions to which they show a remarkable resemblance 

 in outward form ; but when the coating of lime is 

 removed from their fronds by means of acid, their 

 vegetable nature at once becomes apparent^ and 

 in structure they will be seen to resemble, as well 

 as in their fructification, other plants of the red 

 series. On the shores of tropical countries we 

 learn they are among the most beautiful of marine 

 plants ] the shores of Australia are peculiarly rich 

 in them, some forming fans like om* Padina, but 

 rose-coloured; others triply pinnate, like Calli- 

 thamnion; others with whorled ramuli, like the 

 Charse of our ditches. On our coasts this species 

 are not remarkable for their beauty ; the very com- 

 monest kind of the articulated species is the Coral- 

 lina officinalis, which grows abundantly in pools on 



