168 THE MARINE BOTANIST. 



NITOPHYLLUM VERSICOLOR.— PINK AND 

 ORANGE NITOPHYLLUM. 



Stem stiiF, twig*-like, half an inch to an inch 

 high ; either branched or simple, bearing broadly 

 fan-shaped, regularly cleft fronds; whole plant 

 with a rounded outline, margin entire, excepting 

 in old plants, when the tips of the seg'ments be- 

 come greatly thickened, and eventually fringed 

 with colourless, hair-like cilia ; these hardened 

 substances, on dissection, Mrs. Grii&ths finds to be 

 full of minute grains. In the base of the frond 

 at its juncture with the stem a similar thickening 

 is often perceptible. The fructification in this 

 species is unknown. I have examined many dozens 

 of specimens in every stage of growth, in the hope 

 of detecting it, but without success. When fully 

 grown, in August, the callous tips form a very 

 peculiar feature in this plant ; and in its younger 

 state, it may always be known from JV. JBonne- 

 maisoniy which it nearly resembles, by its rapidly 

 changing from rose-red to a beautiful orange, 



