THE MARINE BOTANIST. 223 



IRID^A. 



Named from the iridescent hues of some of the species 

 when recent. 



Frond flat, expanded, dull red, fleshy or carti- 

 lag-inous; internal substance consisting- of densely 

 interwoven fibres, outer of closely-packed beaded 

 filaments. Fncctification: 1. masses of spores 

 {favellidid) immersed in the frond 5 2. tetra- 

 spores placed beneath the outer surface of the 

 frond. 



IRID^A EDULIS.— EDIBLE IRID^A. 



Fronds from four to eig"hteen inches long', and two 

 to eig'ht inches wide, many spring-ing* from the same 

 disk-like root ] simple, rounded at the tip, narrow- 

 ing- at the base into a short stem, occasionally cleft 

 by the action of the waves. Colour a fine deep 

 red, becoming much darker, frequently blackish, 

 when dried. Substance thick and rather leathery. 

 Favellidia in wide, patches, frequently spreading* 



