eo ' <s = ae” | 2 ee 
Descr. Root minute, scutate. Fronds from six to twelve or twenty inches in 
length, from the thickness of a crow-quill to that of a goose-quill in diameter, 
rising with a simple stem, which is distended and constricted at intervals 
of half an inch or an inch, furnished, at each constriction, with a whorl of 
branches similar to itself in structure, and, in full grown specimens, several 
times compounded in a similar manner. The general outline is pyramidal, 
the lowermost branches being longest, the uppermost gradually shorter. 
Branches spreading, more regularly constricted than the stem and at shorter 
intervals, furnished with whorls of more or less frequently compounded 
ramuli, the ultimate series of which are constricted into bead-like joints, 
mostly about as long as broad. Capsules globose, without obvious pore, 
furnished with a wide pellucid pericarp, and containing a dense tuft of 
pear-shaped spores. etraspores lodged in the joints of the ramuli. Swd- - 
_ stance gelatinoso-membranous, closely adhering to paper in drying. Colour 
a fugitive pink or purple, often greenish or yellowish in the stem, and, 
when growing in shallow pools, exposed to strong light, sometimes alto- 
gether pale yellow. Var. 8. is much less compound, mostly with opposite (not 
whorled) branches, which are drawn out into long, flexuous, slender points, 
and furnished with a few distant slender ramuli. Var. y. is the opposite 
state, forming densely matted tufts, closely whorled, with more numerous 
branches and ramuli to each whorl, the latter patent or curved backwards. 
ws 
A well-known plant, common to most of the shores of Europe, 
and found growing at various depths from about half-tide level 
to some fathoms below low water mark. Like most species 
which have a wide range of climate, and which grow at various 
depths, sometimes on rock, sometimes on sand, and sometimes 
on the stems of other Algz, it is subject to very great variations 
both m size and in the minor details of its branchng. Our 
figure represents what may be considered its normal state, or 
type of the species, being a young plant growing under favourable 
circumstances near low water mark. ‘This differs very widely 
in appearance from either of the deep water varieties, which are 
briefly characterized as our vars. 8. and y.; and yet few persons 
who are accustomed to the different aspects which marine plants 
assume from local causes will be disposed to regard them as 
anything more than casual forms. As cabinet species they 
appear distinct enough, especially 8. whose attenuated branches 
and almost setaceous ramuli, opposite, not whorled, seem to mark 
it decidedly. I have specimens of it from the Baltic and Medi- 
terranean ; the latter communicated by Professor Kiitzing, who 
regards it, as well as our var. y., as a distinct species. 
~ 
Fig. 1. CayLocLapIa KALIFoRMtIs,,a small specimen :—of the natural size. 
2. Branchlet with capsules. 3. A capsule. 4. Portion of the tuft of spores. 
5. Branchlet with tetraspores. 6. A tetraspore. 
