160 SEA MOSSES. 



crow's quill, from six to fourteen inches long ; at 

 first unbranched, but soon much branched all around, 

 with limbs of various length, which stand out 

 straight from the main stem. Branches from one to 

 four and five inches long, according to the size of 

 the plant. 



The distinguishing mark of the species is the 

 presence upon both stem and branches, of little 

 tufts, or clusters of incurved ramuli. They are 

 spirally placed, but when the plant is mounted, they 

 seem to be alternate. They are commonly so far 

 separated as to be quite distinct, and are not more 

 than a quarter of an inch long. Color of the 

 plant when dry, a jet black. 



Rhodomela floccosa,* Ag. 



This species differs from the other in many 

 marked points. It is less robust in habit ; the stem 

 and branches are flattened ; the whole frond is 

 divided and sub-divided in one plane ; the branches 

 are alternately set upon the stem, and once or twice 

 alternately divided ; the ultimate ramuli are some- 

 what incurved, but not clustered as in the other 

 species. In fertile plants, the last divisions at the 

 end of the branches are more or less gathered into 



* Floccosa = Full of locks of wool. 



