230 SEA MOSSES. 



more high, and usually consist of a main frond, 

 which is flat, thick, and of a dark red color, taper- 

 ing to a point above and below, with a marked 

 tendency to bend toward one edge like a sabre. 

 This may be the whole of the plant, and then the 

 frond will measure a foot in length, and an inch in 

 width, at the widest part. 



Commonly, however, this is but the central part 

 of a large and widely-spreading plant, the secondary 

 fronds, branching from the sides of the main frond. 

 Sometimes, this may be comparatively small, no more 

 than two inches long, and three- tenths of an inch 

 wide, and throw out on each edge a considerable 

 number of long, flat, tapering, sabre-shaped frondlets, 

 perhaps, a foot or more long. Again, the main 

 stem may be three times as large every way, and 

 the branches no more than four or five inches. So 

 they vary in relative size and proportion. The 

 plants of this species are usually of a deep red, wine 

 color. They do not adhere to paper. 



Genus.— SARCOPHYLLIS, Ag. 



Sarcophyllis Californica. 

 This and another species, 6". edulis, Agardh takes 



