150 THE MARINE BOTANIST. 



MELOBESIA CALCAREA.— CHALKY 

 MELOBESIA. 



When recent, it is a deep blood-red, soon pass- 

 ing* into brick-dust colour, and finally to a snowy 

 whiteness. The branches are slender, divaricating^ 

 spreading in all directions, anastomosing below, free 

 above, and tapering to a blunt point. The ultimate 

 ramuli are either simple or forked. On many parts 

 of our coast this plant forms vast beds, extending 

 for miles in submarine strata; and is advanta- 

 geously used on soils requiring the addition of 

 lime." Harv. Man. ed. 2nd, p. 108. In four to 

 ten fathoms water. Common on the south of Eng- 

 land, and west of Scotland and Ireland. 



0. S. M, fasciculata. In four to five fathoms 

 water, lying at the sandy bottom of the sea. 

 Found on several parts of the coast. Colour when 

 recent a livid purple, soon fading to a dirty white ; 

 one to three inches in diameter, roundish or irregu- 

 larly lobed, stony, with short, thick, solid branches. 



