136 BRITISH MARINE ALGA. 
cleft, and are curled, waved, or fimbriated at the margins—characters 
which serve to denote varieties, though they all undoubtedly belong to the 
Same species—differing in form merely in different localities, or from some 
circumstances connected perhaps with climatic influences affecting their 
growth. My largest specimens were taken in Plymouth harbour, the 
segments of which were from 6in. to 10in. long; but these are pigmies in 
comparison with specimens found in the north of Ireland, some of which 
are over 3ft. in length and 2ft. in breadth. Among the recent additions 
which have been made to the marine flora of this country is that of the 
new species Nitophyllum thysanorhizans, discovered by Mr. Holmes at 
Plymouth. The peculiarities of this new species consist, firstly, in the 
position of the tetraspores, which are placed within the terminal lobes of 
the segments ; secondly,’of a series of minute veins, which traverse the 
fronds throughout; and, thirdly, in the production of tufts of root-like 
processes, which fringe the margins of the segments. 
The two plants Calliblepharis ciliata and C. jubata were, until lately, 
included in the genus Rhodymenia; but as the structure of their spore- 
producing organs does not accord with the principle of fructification in the 
Rhodymeniacee, the genus Calliblepharis has been formed for their recep- 
tion, and now they follow the Nitophylla in the Order Spherococcoidee. 
With the first of these (Calliblepharis ciliata, Fig. 124), both names 
have reference to the beautiful eyelash-like cilia, which border the 
segments of the fronds and contain the spores. The plant arises from a 
creeping fibrous root, and is at first a narrow pointed leaf, from 3in. to 
6in. long, tapered at the base and acute at the tip; the cilia, which are put 
forth from the margin, develop into branches similar in form to the primary 
leaf, and thus the species becomes foliiferous, each leafy segment being 
ciliated on each side, and sometimes even on the surface. At maturity, 
which is reached on the approach of winter, the spherical tubercles begin 
to appear, swelling the cilia about the centre, and bending the tips down 
at an angle which gives these little processes a remarkable resemblance to 
a duck’s head, the sporiferous nucleus in the rounded angle occupying the 
place of the eye of the bird. This peculiarity is represented at b (Fig. 124). 
The tetraspores, which are contained in cloudy patches, are dispersed over 
the surface of the fronds. The colour varies from a dull pink to a full red. 
‘he plant is annual, and is cast ashore allalong the south coast of England. 
U. jubata (Fig. 125), is nearly allied to the former species, and is frequently 
mistaken for it by young collectors. It is, however, a summer annual, 
and fruits before autumn ; it is frequently found growing abundantly in — 
rock pools; but C. ciliata fruits in winter, and is thrown ashore from 
deep water. The tetrasporic fruit of C.jubata is also produced in a different 
situation, being confined to the cilia, in which the spores are also produced, 
In early growth the cilia of this species are short and needle-pointed ; but, 
as the plant advances towards maturity, they lengthen and become filiform, 
and in luxuriant specimens they curl and twist round the fronds, and even 
round those of other plants near them, like the tendrils of a creeping 
