RHODOSPERME. 147 
in the west of Ireland, but I have taken it only on the south Devonshire 
coast. Helminthora (formerly Dudresnaia), divaricata, is a summer 
annual, which, in opposition to some writers, I must pronounce to be a 
rarity. It is widely distributed in northern latitudes, and occurs on some 
of the south coasts of England. I have taken it nowhere but in Whiting 
Bay, Isle of Arran, and there I met with it two seasons in. succession. 
Fig. 134 represents a slightly enlarged branch of this species. The fronds, 
which ave from 6in. to 14in. high, are tufted and densely branched, and set 
throughout with short, curved, and divaricating ramuli. The substance is 
very soft and gelatinous. The colour is a brownish purple, and the 
structure, under the microscope, is as remarkable and beautiful as that of 
the foregoing species. Little masses of purple spores are concealed among 
the tufted filaments that radiate from the centre of the stems and branches. 
Scinaia (formerly Ginannia) furcellata, is a summer annual that is cast 
ashore in the south of England, some seasons rather abundantly. The 
fronds are from 3in. to 6in. high, and are branched by repeated forkings, 
the tips regularly ending in a little fork, whence the specific name. 
Fig. 135 represents a branch of this species. The stem and branches are 
cylindrical, and are of a soft pulpy substance. Under the microscope, the 
fibrous axis of the plant appears almost like a midrib, from which slender, 
forked, horizontal filaments radiate towards the margin of the frond, within 
which, and at the tips of the radiating branched threads, the spores are 
produced, being, in fact, a transformation of the terminal cells of those 
filaments. Tetraspores, which have recently been discovered by me in 
Torbay specimens, are immersed in the surface cells of the fronds. The 
colour is a bright red, which, with care in the mounting and pressing of 
this plant, is retained in drying. All the species of this very gelatinous 
tribe of plants require particular treatment in preparing them as specimens 
for the herbarium. The best plan is, after having washed them well in 
sea-water, and freed them from parasites, to display them on paper in the 
usual way, in a dish of sea-water; then place the papers containing 
them in an inclined position for a few minutes, so that the water may 
drain away ; then lay them upon one of the boards of the press, and gently 
place the muslin or calico covering over the plants, then the blotting paper 
over the calico, and a similar piece of blotter under the paper on which the 
plant isdisplayed. On the top of all place a board, but apply no pressure. 
Experience alone will direct the Jength of time the plants should be 
allowed to remain thus, but my advice is to change the blotting paper at 
least twice during the first half hour, and then, after the second change 
of blotters, apply very gentle pressure for a few hours, after which, 
change the blotting papers once more, and increase the pressure some- 
what for a day, and finally give stronger pressure for a day or two, 
-when, upon releasing the plants, the manipulator will be fully rewarded 
for his patience and industry. 
The Order Wrangeliacee consists of two genera, which were formerly 
placed in two widely separated divisions, but owing to the difference of 
