The English flora - SeaweedAfrica

Pulysi-phonia.] ALG.E CONFERVOIDEJE. 329
lations bi-tri-striate, rosy under the microscope, 2— 4 or 5 times longer
— o
than broad ; dissepiments pellucid. Our specimens are without fruit.
Notwithstanding Lyngbye's figure represents the ramuli as less dense and
the joints shorter than I find them on the specimens just described, I
feel confident that our plants are similar, and that this species is per-
fectly distinct from P. elongata, to which it bears externally the closest
resemblance.— It is well distinguished by the totally inarticulate main
filaments, and the long jointed bi-striated ramuli, which are moreover not
in the least attenuated at the base.— I place it (rather artificially) next
to P. Brodicei, on account of its inarticulate stems.
B. filaments articulated throughout.
* Marked with two stria:.
5. P. Jrbrdta, (bearded Polysiphonia) ; filaments elongated
setaceous gelatinous bi-striated flexuose loosely branched, ramuli
dichotomous fasciculate, axils patent, upper articulations
2—3 times longer than broad, capsules ovate pedunculate.
Conferva fibrata, Dillw. Conf. Syn. p. 84. t. G, (according to the
original specimens.)—Hutchinsia roseola, Ag. Sp. Alg. v. '2. p. 92.
—H. stricta, Ag. Syst. Alg. (not of Lyngb. ?)
Sea-shores, on the larger Algae ; Forres, Mr. Brodie. Cawsie, Messrs.
Borrer and Hooktr. Appin, Captain Cannichacl. Brixham, Devon,
Mrs. Griffiths.— Vrobi\h\\ not uncommon. Filaments 2— 10 inches long,
thicker than hog's bristle at the base, (in the Devonshire specimens) at-
tenuated upwards to an extreme fineness, very flaccid and gelatinous,
low er branches scattered, upper ones crowded, many
forming loose tufts ;
times dichotomous and broadly fasciculate ; ramuli multifid, axils remarkably
patent. Articulations variable, those of the stems 4— 6, those
of the branches 2—3 times longer than broad :— those of the ramuli very
short.—Colour a fine purple-red, brighter on drying. Fructification of
2 kinds : 1. Capsules ovate, obtuse, dark-coloured, 4—5 times the diameter
of the filament, when full grown, scattered over the upper ramuli
and raised on short peduncles.— 2. granules imbedded in distorted
ramuli.— J consider this to he a very distinct .spene^ though its charac-
ters are not easy to define in a few words. The habit in the larger specimens
is very nearly that of /'. Broduet, while in its microscopic charac-
ter, this species approaches I 1
, stricta. Of the correctness of my reference
to Dillwyn, I am quite certain, having examined numerous authentic
specimens; but I am not so Mire that our plant is the /'. roseola oi
Agardh, though I have a Bpecimen from this author now before me.
It appears merely to differ in its diminutive size and Blender filaments.
lint m our P.JIbrata these characters are extremely variable-:— Mr. Bro-
die's specimens are not two inches in length, while Mrs. Griffiths'
largest ones are 10 or 12 inches.—The fibres at the apices, on which
much Btress i> laid bj Dillwyn, are nothing more than whit occur in
many other Bpectes.
• ;. I*. stricta, Grer. (Uraighi Pctyriphonia) ; filaments densely
cssspitose setaceous flaccid bi-striate dichotomous, branches ami
ramuli straight erect, axils acute, upper articulations 1—
tunes longer than broad, capsules ovate sessile -( 'on/erva*
Dillw. Conf, t. 40r-—Hutchi**ia stricta^ Ag. Sp* dig* r. 2. — Lyngb, Hydroph, Dan. /. .'{»>
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