Plate XL. 
Fig. 181. NITOPHYLLUM VERSICOLOR. 
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 {lacinice) subdivided ; many times slit above ; their tips rounded, 
and generally thickened with hard, wart-like lumps. Margins smooth ; or sometimes 
fringed with minute hair-like frondlets. Unmarked by veiny lines. Boot 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. hypoglossum. 
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. ruscifolia, 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 (son), 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 Delcsserias 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 outline round. Divisions {lacinice) ribbon-like or wedge-shaped ; many times 
forked {dichotomous) ; their axils rounded. Margins sometimes smooth {entire) ; some- 
times 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. 
Habitat. Our coasts generally. On rocks and algge at low-water mark, or beyond. Frequent. 
Now Bhodophyllis hijida. The marginal capsules are a great clue to this plant. 
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