RHODOSPERME. 139 
becomes a waxy white. The species is perennial, and is abundant on the 
British coasts. The rare and beautiful species, G. multipartita, Fig. 128, 
is dredged in Plymouth Sound, where it attains very unusual dimensions, 
Fig. 126. Terminal branch of Spherococcus coronopifolius (magnified). 
the fronds being often over 12in. long, tufted and branched so as to spread 
out into a circle of 2ft.in circumference. The fronds are cleft nearly to 
the base, the branches are flat and are numerously and irregularly divided. 
Fig. 127. Gracilaria confervoides. Fig. 128. Gracilaria multipartita. 
y L 
When first gathered, the fronds are soft and brittle; but in drying they 
shrink and become tough, and adhere tolerably well to paper. The cap- 
sules are large and prominent, and are scattered abundantly over the 
