The species of the genus Ceramium, unless, with earlier writers, 
we reduce the multiplied forms presented to the eye to three or 
four ¢ypes, are not only very numerous, and very widely dis- 
persed, but are so closely connected together by doubtful looking 
varieties, that their study and disentanglement becomes a task of 
much difficulty. Until of late years British authors have been 
contented to recognise but three, C. rubrum, C. diaphanum and 
C. ciliatum; to which, m the ‘Manual’, I ventured to add two 
others. But now, since Kiitzing has published, though with less 
perfect materials to work upon than exist in British Herbaria, 
no less than forty-two which he divides into six genera (!); the 
attention of British botanists has been aroused, and many new 
Ceramia added to our list. 
Among these is the subject of the present plate, which having 
been published in two collections of dried specimens, is pretty 
generally known to British botanists, though perhaps not under 
the name here given. I believe it was first detected by Mrs. 
Griffiths, from whom I received specimens several years ago, 
and by her has always been regarded as a well marked species, 
distinguished from those most nearly allied to it, by a certain 
harshness to the touch, or rigidity, as well as by its very patent 
forking. In these respects it differs from C. fastigiatum, which 
it most nearly resembles. 
Of the synonyme of Kiitzing, I feel confident, having sub- 
mitted a specimen to that author ; but by him C. zodosum is placed 
in his genus Hormoceras, the character of which is to have im- 
mersed tetraspores, whereas, I find these to be erumpent, a 
character which would place it in Gongroceras, Kitz. Possibly 
Kiitzing’s specimens had not mature fruit. 
Occasionally, tufted, root-lke fibres issue from the swollen 
joints, as I find on Miss Ball’s and Miss Gower’s specimens. 
Fig. 1. Ceramium noposum :—of the natural size. 2. Upper portion of a 
filament. 3. Portion of a fertile frond, with favellg. 4. Portion of a 
fertile frond with ¢etraspores :—all more or less highly magnified. 
