238 SEA MOSSES. 



MlCROCLADIA CALIFORNICA, FaRLOW. 



In general form and substance, this very much 

 resembles the last species, but differs a little in the 

 disposition of the ultimate ramuli. But a perfectly 

 unmistakable mark may be found in the position of 

 the fruit. And it would not be exactly safe to call 

 any specimen M. Californica, which does not demon- 

 strate its identity by having fruit. 



In M. Coulteri, the fruit is borne on the inside 

 of the ultimate ramulus, and is surrounded by a little 

 whorl, of incurved, short, spine-like processes, which 

 partly inclose it. In M. Californica, the fruit is 

 borne on the outside of the ramulus, and is bare, 

 and destitute of this inclosing whorl. The species is 

 not as common as the last, but is found growing in 

 the same situations along with that. 



MlCROCLADIA BOREALIS, RUPR. 



Our artist has given such a good picture of this 

 beautiful plant, in Fig. 2, Plate VII, that it cannot 

 be necessary to enter into a detailed verbal descrip- 

 tion of it. There is nothing in the waters of the 

 Northern Pacific that can possibly be mistaken for it. 



It will be observed that the very graceful outline 

 of the plant, is obtained by carrying out, in detail, 

 a perfectly uniform and very simple method of branch- 



