Fig. 154. JANIA KUBENS. 



Colour. Lilac when recent; changing to pinky or brick-dust red; fading to green or 

 milk-white. 



Substance. Hard and stony, like coral; but flexible at the joints. Exceedingly brittle, 

 when dry. 



Character of Frond. Dense tufts of slender branches; their tips trimmed to one level 

 {fasiigiate). Branching forked {dicliotomous). Branches erect or spreading; 

 gradually tapering upwards; cylindrical; jointed. Joints at the base very short; 

 the upper ones gradually longer. 



Measurement. From ^ to 1 or 2 inches high. 



Fructification. Only one kind known. Clustered strings of spores in urn-shaped cap- 

 sules; external, the last joint of a branchleb being transformed into one; 

 generally with a very slender branchlet springing from each shoulder, like 

 horns, or the feelers {antennce) of a butterfly. 



Halitat. Our coasts towards the south. Parasitical on the smaller alga? between 

 tide-marks. Common. 



Fig. 155. JANIA COKNICULATA. 



Colour. As in Jania ruhens. 

 Substance. As in Jania rubens. 



Character of Frond. As in Jania rubens with respect to general appearance and 

 branching, but no further. In J. corniculata the joints of the principal 

 branches are compressed and wedge-shaped, tapering to the base; the shoulders 

 sharp and prominent, and often prolonged into a pointed horn-like branchlet 

 (not figured in the Plate). Last branchlets cylindrical ; joints of the principal 

 branches from two to three times as long as broad; of the last branchlets 

 very short. 



Ileasitrement. One or 2 inches high. 

 Fructification. As in Jania ruhens. 



Habitat. Southern shores of England and Ireland. Isle of Wight; Jersey, &c. 

 Parasitic on the lesser algffi. Not uncommon. 



Fig. 156. MELOBESIA CALCAREA. 



Colour. When fresh, deep blood-red; soon passing into brick-dust colour; fading to 



milk-white. 

 Substance. Hard, stony, and limy; solid. 



Character of Frond. Loose, irregular-shaped lumps, very much branched; like an old 

 stunted tree in miniature. Main branches forked (^dichotomous), two sometimes 

 uniting in one as they grow (anastomosing). Branchlets standing out in all 

 directions; simple; forked; or three-pronged. 



Measurement. From 1 to 2J inches high. 



Fructification. Only one kind known. Clustered strings of spores in round, but 



rather depressed capsules, scattered about the frond. 

 Habitat. South of England and west of Scotland and Ireland. On shingly or sandy 



shores in from live to fifteen fathoms' water. 



