RED ALGsE. 147 



jointed in the upper half, as are also all the branches. 

 Sometimes there is a main leading stem and some- 

 times not. The branches are irregularly placed, but 

 divide and subdivide in a manner between forking 

 and branching. 2. The axils of the sub-divisions 

 are narrow, so that the branchlets seem to cluster 

 together. 3. Owing to the great length of the 

 secondary branches and branchlets, the plant gives 

 the impression of reaching out and trying to extend 

 itself. 4. The branches seem to maintain their orig- 

 inal thickness almost to the tips. 5. On the ulti- 

 mate branchlets will be found many short ramuli, 

 which taper to base and apex like those of Chon- 

 driopsis tenuis si ma. 6. Growing mostly through the 

 same regions as P. violacca, it is yet, as compared 

 with that species, if not distinctly rare, certainly 

 very infrequent. 



Tlie winter form of this plant, when the finer 

 branchlets are fallen away, is an exaggeration of 

 some of its summer aspe< The great length of 



its bare, slender, unclothed branches gives it a pecu- 

 liar and really uninteresting appearance. In this 

 state the natives call it "lobster hums," or "lob- 

 ster (law-," because of its supposed resemblance to 

 the lo lender antenna of that creature. The 



winter plant very imperfectly ac'heres to paper. 



