n . x c v j i T
W - E H - c l e L e l l i l l i .
P l a t e XCVIII.
RALFSIA DEUSTA, Berh.
Gen. C h a r . Frond coriaceo-cmstaceous, fixed by its inferior surface, orbicular,
concentrically zoned; composed of densely packed, vertical,
simple filaments. Fructification; depressed warts, scattered over the
upper surface, containing obovate spores fixed to the bases of vertical
filaments. R a l e s ia [Berk.),—in honour of John Balfs, Fsq., of
Penzance, a most acute and accurate botanist, whose discoveries among
the minute Algse, especiaUy the Biatomacea, have thrown great light
on that little known branch of botany.
R a l e s ia deusta.
U a le s ia d eu s ta , Berh. in Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2 8 6 6 .
H il d e n b e a n d t ia ru b r a , A t / / . 3rd Suppl. p . 2 6 (nee. syn. Berk.-, nec. Menegh.).
C r u o r ia v e rru co s a , Aresch.
P a d in a ? d eu s ta . Hook. Br. El. v o l . i i . p . 2 8 1 . Harv. in Mack. El. Hih.
p a r t 3 . p . 1 7 8 . Harv. Man. p . 3 1 .
Z o n a r ia ? d eu s ta , Ag. Syn. p . 4 0 . A g . Sp. Alg. vol. i. p . 1 3 2 . Ag. Syst.
p . 2 6 5 . lyngl). Hyd. Ban. p . 1 9 . t . 6.
Fuous fungularis, Oeder. El. Norv. vol. ii. p . 1 0 7 . El. Ban. t. 4 2 0 {excl.
syn. Imperati.).
H a b . Common on the rocky shores of the British Islands, between high-
water mark, and half-tide level ; from Orkney to Devonsliire. Perennial.
Winter.
Geoge. Distr. Atlantic shores of Europe from Iceland to Erance.
Aresch. Kamtschatka and Unalascha, Tilesius.
Baltic Sea,
Desce. Eronds spreading over the surface of rocks in crustaceous, lichenoid
patches, from one to six or more inches in diameter ; when young, orbicular,
but becoming very irregular in outline when old, marked, more or less evidently,
especially towards the margin, with concentric striæ or bands, about
a line asunder. The surface of the frond in young specimens is nearly flat
and even, but in full grown individuals it is much coiTugated, and covered
more or less with wart-like prominences ; and very old plants- present an
exceedingly rugged surface, in which all traces of concentric striæ are lost.
The structure of the frond is very dense and opake, but thin, vertical slices
exhibit an arrangement of the cellules into vertical closly packed filaments,
strongly glued together. fructijicabion consists of scattered warts, composed
of vertical, easily separable filaments, to whose bases are attached
obovate, simple spores. Colour a dark, cotfee-brown, becoming darker in
drying. Substance between leathery and crustaceous, flexible.
This singular production more nearly resembles, to the naked
m
It *
1C, F ,