Fig. 78. SPHACELAEIA FUSCA. 



Colour. Brown. 



Suhstance. Rigid; but not coarse. 



Character of Frond. A tcift; jointed throughout; thread-like (^filiform). Branches 

 long and simple, bearing a few short, occasionally three-armed (trifid) branch- 

 lets. (See Plate.) 



Measurement. From 3 to 5 inches long. 



Fructification. Globose seeds {spores) borne on the branchlets. 

 Habitat. Shores of Wales; Sidmouth; St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall. 



Fig. 79. SPHACELAEIA EADICANS. 



Colour. Dull greenish-olive. 

 Substance. Rigid; harsh. 



Character of Frond. Verj^ short tufts spreading in patches on rocks. Tufts com- 

 posed of jointed threads {filaments) slightly branched; sometimes upright, 

 sometimes lying flat; sending out little fibrous roots from their lower side. 



Measurement. From \ an inch to an inch high. 



Fructification. Globose seeds {spores) borne on the branchlets; clustered; abundant. 



Habitat. Various parts of Great Britain and Ireland. On sand-covered rocks between 

 tide-marks. Not uncommon. 



Often overlooked from its insignificance. 



Fig. 80. SPHACELAEIA EACEMOSA. 



Colour. Olive. 

 Substance. Rigid; hard. 



Character of Frond. Short tufts, growing on rocks. Tufts composed of jointed 

 threads {filaments) branched in a forked manner {dichotomously) . 



Measurement. An inch high. 



Fructification. Egg-shaped seeds {spores) on stalks; in clusters; several on a 

 branchlet together {racemose). 



Habitat. Friths of Forth and of Clyde. Very rare. 



The grape-like fructification being very plentiful, there is no difficulty in 

 recognising this plant when in fruit. It is allied to *S^. radicans, but is larger. 



36 



