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46
THE MARINE ALGÆ OF NEW ENGLAND.
.18 mm in breadth, once or once and a half as long as broad, nodes constricted.
To this species is referred, with considerable doubt, a rare Ulothrix found by Mr. Collins at Nahant.
The filaments are six or seven inches long, very soft, and they can with difficulty be removed from the
paper on which they are pressed. The cells average from .035-90 mm in breadth by .054-.324 mm in length.
In Rhode Island Plants, by S. T. Olney, Providence Franklin Society, April, 1847, under No. 1189, is the
following; “Conferva collabens, Ag.? ‘or near it’—Harv. MSS. Sogonnet Point! Narragansett Pier!” In the
Nereis Am. Bor., Part III, no. reference is made to C. collabens, Ag., by Harvey, whom Olney quotes in
his list. Harvey, however, in the Nereis, describes a new species, Chætomorpha Olneyi, which calls to
mind C. collabens, and perhaps that is the plant referred to by Mr. Olney.
CHÆTOMORPHA, Kütz.
(From χαιτη [chaite], hair, and µορφη [morphe], shape.)
Filaments grass green, coarse and rigid, unbranched, either attached in tufts or
floating in masses, cells variable in length, often much longer than broad.
The species of this genus may be divided into two groups. In the first the filaments arise in tufts from a
definite base. In the second the filaments are twisted together and form intricate masses, which rest
upon stones and other algæ. It may be a question whether the members of the last-named group are not
the advanced stage of the species of the first group, which, us they have developed, have become
twisted together and torn from their attachments. It would be comparatively a simple matter to classify
our own species taken by themselves, but in comparing them with foreign species it becomes very
complicated in consequence of the confusion of names applied to some of the common European species.
We can only briefly mention the synonyms, which are almost hopelessly confused.
C. MELAGONIUM, (Web. & Mohr.) Kütz. (Conferva Melagonium, Phyc. Brit., Pl. 99 a.)
Filaments erect, base scutate, coarse and wiry, dark glaucous green, cells .4-5 mm
broad by .4-7 mm long.
In tide-pools.
Common from Boston northward; Northern Europe.
The most easily recognized species of the genus with us. It grows in deep tide-pools, attached to pebbles
and rocks. The filaments can be recognized at a distance by their dark glaucous-green color and
rigidity. It is generally a foot or more in length, and the filaments are usually free, but become more or
less twisted together. It does not adhere well to paper in drying, and in spite of its coarseness it does
not bear immersion in fresh water.
C. ÆREA, (Dillw.) Kütz. (Conferva ærea, Phyc. Brit., Pl. 99 b.)
Filaments erect, base scutate, setaceous, yellowish green, cells .25-40 mm long by .15-
30 mm broad.
In high-tide pools.
New York Harbor, Harvey; New Haven, Prof. Eaton; Newport, Bailey; Gloucester;
Europe.
This species has a wider range than the last, being found not only in the north of Europe, but also in
the Mediterranean and other warm seas. With us it is not