Plate XL. 



Fig. 181. NITOPHYLLUM YERSICOLOR. 



Colour. When fresh, rose-red; turning to a beautiful golden orange in fresh water; 

 even when wetted by a shower only. 



Substance. Thick; membranaceous; soft; all but the stems, which are firmly elastic. 



Character of Frond. A flat, ribless expansion, spreading suddenly from the top of a 

 somewhat tuberous stem. General outline round. Slit into several deeply-cut, 

 wedge-shaped divisions. Divisions (laciiiicB) subdivided; many times slit above; 

 their tips rounded, and generally thickened with hard, wart-like lumps. Margins 

 smooth; or sometimes fringed with minute hair-Uke frondlets. Unmarked by 

 veiny lines. Koot unknown. 



Measurement. From 1 to 3 inches high and across. 



Fructification. Unknown. 



Habitat. Ilfracombe. Youghal. Thrown ashore from deep water. Very rare. 



Fig. 182. DELESSERIA RUSCIFOLIA. 



Colour. A clear crimson, rather than pink. 



Substance. Delicately membranaceous, but somewhat firmer than D. hi/poglossum. 



Character of Frond. Like that of D. hypoglossum, composed entirely of leaves growing 

 from leaves; the younger from the midribs of the older. But in D. ruscifoUa^ 

 the leaves are oblong with obtuse tips; and do not taper at the base. 



Measurement. Seldom more than 2 inches high. 



Fructification. Of two kinds. 1. A mass of spores in globose capsules; imbedded 

 in, but prominent upon, the midribs of the leaves. 2. Tetraspores in groups 

 (sori), forming oblong lines on each side the midribs. 



Habitat. Our coasts generally. On rocks near low- water mark; or occasionally on 

 algse. Not common. 



For other Delesserias refer back to Plate XXXIII. Fig. 150, and Plate XXXVII. 



Fig. 183. RHODYMENIA BIFIDA. 



Colour. A delicate rose-red or pink; sometimes dingy. 

 Substance. Delicately membranaceous; generally transparent. 



Character of Frond. A flat, ribless expansion, deeply and repeatedly divided from 

 the base. General outhne Tound. Divisions ribbon-like or wedge-shaped; 



many times forked {dichotomous) ; their axils rounded. Margins sometimes 

 smooth (entire); sometimes fringed with minute, leafy, or hair-like frondlets; 

 tips blunt or rounded. 



Measurement. From 3 to 10 inches long. Width varying. 



Fructification. Of two kinds. 1. A mass of spores in globose capsules; external; 



seated (sessile) on the margins; or rarely over the surface of the upper divisions. 



2. Tetraspores forming cloudy spots in the upper divisions. 

 Hahitat. Our coasts generally. On rocks and algie at low-water mark, or beyond. 



Frequent. 



Now Ehodophyllis bifida. The marginal capsules are a great clue to this plant. 

 5 



