180 BRITISH MARINE ALGA. 
At the commencement of my list of the Rhodosperms, I described a plant 
named Polyides lumbricalis (Fig. 83), which, in outward form and when 
Fie. 167. Gratelowpia filicina. 
not in fruit, is so remarkably similar to the species I am about to speak 
of, that points of difference are at times scarcely distinguishable. The 
plant I refer to is Furcellaria fastigiata, represented by a branch or two 
at Fig. 166. The little fastigiate forks which terminate the branchlets are, 
when the plant is in fruit, swollen in the centre, and gradually tapered 
to a point. In these lanceolate receptacles masses of tetraspores are 
produced, but at maturity all these pod-like bodies fall off, leaving the 
forked branches truncate or jagged at the tips. The fronds arise from 
an entangled fibrous root. and are about 10in. or 12in. high, each having 
Fira. 168. Schizymenia edulis. 
a stem an inch or two in length, and then branching upwards dichoto- 
mously, the divisions being all forked and fastigiate, or terminating in 
