P l a t e L .
RHODOMELA LYCOPODIOIDES, Ag.
Gen. Chae. Frond filiform, solid, much branched, inarticulate, reticulated;
th e axis composed of concentric layers of oblong, hyaline c e lls; th e
periphery of several rows of minute, irregular, coloured cellules.
Fructification of two kinds, on distinct individuals; 1, ovate
{ceramidia) containing a tu ft of pear-shaped sp o re s; 2 ,
immersed in swoUen ramuli, in a single row'. E h o d om e l a {Ag.)—
from poSfov, red, and gskas, black; because the species usuaUy become
darker in drying.
E h o d om e l a lycopodioides; frond divided near th e base into several long,
simple branches, whicli are densely beset with slender, finely-divided
branchlets, mixed with th e short, rigid, bristle-like remains of a former
series.
E h o d om e l a lycopodioides, Ag. Sp. Alg. vol. i. p. 377. Ag. Syst. p. 199.
Grev. Alg. Brit. p. 102. Hook. B r. Bl. vol. ii. p. 294. Harv. in Mack. Bl.
Hib. part 3. p. 196. Harv. Man. p. 67. Endl. 3rd Suppl. p. 47.
G ig a k t in a lycopodioides, Lyngb. Hyd. Ban. p. 45. Grev. Bl. Bdin. p. 389.
F d e c e l l a e ia lycopodioides, Ag. Syn. p. 11. Hook. Bl. Scot. part 2. p. 97.
L oehuea lycopodioides, Kiitz. Phyc. Gen. p. 435.
Fuous lycopodioides, Linn. Syst. Nat. p. 717- Turn. Syn. vol. ii. p. 343.
B. Bot. t. 1163. Turn. Hist. t. 12.
CoNFEEVA sqnarrosa, I I . Ban. t. 357.
Hab. Growing on th e stems of Laminaria digitata. Perennial. Spring
and Summer. Coast of Scotland and of th e N o rth of Ireland, frequent.
Scarborough, Sir T. Frankland. Coast of N orthumberland, Mr. Winch.
Durham, Mr. J. Thornhill. Cromer, Mr. Woodward. Balbriggan,
Miss Gower.
G e o g e . D i s t e . Northern Europe.
D e s c e . Root a smaU disc. Fronds from four inches to two feet in length,
about half a line in diameter at base, attenuated upwards, cylindrical, fiU-
fonn, tufted, either simple, or divided at a short distance from the base
into several long simple branches, clothed in its winter state with short, rigid,
simple, or slightly branched, imbricated ramuh, from half an inch to an
inch in len g th ; in summer thi’owing out from these and from the main
stems, numerous, capillary, multifid ramuli, usually from one to two inches in
length, but occasionally lengthened into branches from six to fomdeen inches
in length, and hearing, at short distances, broad tufts of multifid ramuli
resembling those usually borne by the main stem. Capsules abundant on
the summer ramuli, ovate, containing a tuft of pear-shaped seeds. Tetra-
¥ tripartite or cruciate, contained in clustered or racemose, stichidiform