Plate XXX. 
Fig. 133. BONNEMAISONIA ASPARAGOIDES. 
Colour. Brilliant rosy red ; rather darker from the west of Ireland. 
Substance. Very soft and delicate. 
Character of Frond. Thread-like (^filamentous)., but rather compressed ; delicately, and very 
much branched. Stem undivided ; set on each side wdth long, alternate branches, 
wdiich are either simple or re-branched. Stem and branches fringed throughout with 
very slender, short, awl-shaped branchlets, regularly alternate. The whole frond at 
one level (distichous). 
Measurement. From 4 to 12 inches long. 
Fructification. Only one sort known. Clustered spores in ovate, shortly-stalked capsules, 
which are always placed exactly opposite one of the fringing branchlets. 
Habitat. The milder stations on our coast. West of Scotland, Isle of Man, Devonshire, &c. 
Ireland generally. On rocks near low-water mark, and at a greater depth. Not 
very uncommon. 
A variety of this most graceful plant, is found at Wicldow and in Kingstown Harbour, 
/S teres. It is thoroughly thread-, (filiform) throughout, (cylindrical, i. e. instead of 
compressed;) and the fringing branchlets are very long. Bonnemaisonia evidently loves a 
genial climate, becoming more and more luxuriant in proportion to the warmth of the sea it 
inhabits. The slender fringing branchlets, regularly alternate, with a spore-capsule opposite 
each, when in fruit; combined with the brilliant colour, distinguish this plant from every 
other British species. And it is generally, if not always, in fruit when thrown ashore, which 
happens sometimes, in great profusion, for a few weeks during the summer. 
Fig. 134. POLYSIPHONIA BYSSOIDES. 
Colour. A fine clear red when young ; browner when old, and after exposure to the air, or in 
drying. 
Substance. When young and luxuriant, soft ; all but the stems, which are gristly ; when old, 
rigid. 
Character of Frond. Thread-like (filamentous) ; tufted ; very much branched. Stem undi- 
vided ; branched like a feather (pinnate). Branches simple, slender, the lowermost 
longest ; gradually shorter upwards ; several times re-branched ; the lesser divisions 
more or less densely clothed with tufts of once or twice forked, spreading, cobweb-like 
branchlets, which give the frond a beautifully feathery appearance. Joints visible 
throughout, though often difficult to observe from the crowded branchlets. Stem and 
branches marked with three or four upright lines (internal tubes). Branchlets 
single-tubed. 
Internal Tubes. About eight. 
Measurement. From 4 to 12 inches long. 
Fructification. Only one kind observed. Clustered spores in ovate, stalked capsules ; external ; 
on the lesser branches. 
Habitat. Our coasts generally. On stones and shells, and algge near low-water mark, and in 
deeper water. Common. 
A stunted sort of variety with the tufts of branchlets stiff, crowded, and thorn-like (not 
unlike the magnified branch of the variety denudata of Dasya coccinea, Fig. 135), and the 
whole plant a dull brown, can scarcely be recognised when compared with luxurious feathery 
specimens of this plant. 
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