Plate XXXVII. 



Fig. 169. DELESSERIA SANGUINEA. 



Colour. Blood-red so soon after exposure that it is generally picked up that colour; 

 but when perfectly fresh a clear transparent moroon. Becoming brilliant after 

 an hour or two's pressure, and retaining its fine cactus-hue in the herbarium, 

 quite unchanged by years. The plate represents a plant which, having been 

 picked up red, has faded, under pressure, to pink. 



Substance. Delicately membranaceous all but the stem and midribs, which are firmly 

 elastic. 



Character of Frond. Stem and branches bearing strongly midribbed, distinctly veined 

 leaves. Stem thick, solid, cylindrical; simply or slightly branched; darker than 

 the leaves. Leaves oblong, more or less pointed; sometimes obtuse; their 

 margins curled, but quite whole {entire^. Midribs and side- veins prominent; 

 the former occasionally furnished with leaflets. (See figure.) Fruiting in 

 winter. Boot a disc. 



Measurement. Leaves from 2 to 8 inches long; from 1 to 6 wide. Frond varying 

 from a few inches to a foot in height. 



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

 capsules; borne in winter on the skeleton midribs of the summer's leaves from 

 which the membrane has died away; and which thus become the stems of the 

 next year's plant. 2. Tetraspores in small, special, stalked leaflets, fringing 

 the skeleton midribs. 



Habitat. Our coasts generally. On rocks, Laminaria stems, and in pools, at or near 

 low- water mark, and deeper. Common. 



' This charming plant, of whoso beauty the eye never wearies, is happily not 



rare. It should bo looked for in the early summer, before it is torn or dis- 

 figured by zoophytes. The cruel necessities of science have cause(J it to change 

 its name, and by no means for the better. The old friend must be introduced 

 to its admirers now as " Wokmskioldia sangiiinea." 



Fig. 170. DELESSERIA SINUOSA. 



Colour. A deep fine red; purplish when dry. Much duller at all times than the 

 preceding. 



Substance. Delicately membranaceous, all but the stems and midribs, which are 



elastic and firm, though slender. 

 Character of Frond. Stem and branches, bearing distinctly midribbed and veined 



leaves. Stem slender, cylindrical, once or twice branched. Leaves oblong at 



first; spreading irregularly afterwards ; deeply and variously cut in {pinnatifid) ; 



often like an oak-leaf; sometimes more regularly, as in the figure. (See figure.) 



Margins toothed or jagged. Midribs occasionally producing leaflets, as in D. 



sanguinea. 



Measurement. From a few inches to a foot high. Leaves of every variety of size. 

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



the midribs of the leaves. 2. Tetraspores in minute leaflets fringing the 



margins and midribs. 



Habitat. Our coasts generally, but preferring the north. On the stems of Lam. 

 digitata, and on various substances in deep water. Not uncommon. 



A more variable plant in general appearance than the preceding. When old, 

 and a set of skeleton branches with a few stunted leaves upon them, it can 

 hardly be recognised. A broad-leaved specimen is a very beautiful object. 



73 L 



