The English flora - SeaweedAfrica

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330 ALG.E CONFERVOIDE/E. [Polysiphonia.
On sand-covered rocks, not uncommon on any of our shores.
Root "a network of perennial creeping filaments," (Carm.), 2—10
inches high, forming densely entangled tufts of a dull red or purplish
colour. Capsules and granules abundantly produced.
7. P. urceoldta, Grev. (pitcher -fruited Polysiphonia) ; filaments
rigid cartilaginous much branched loosely entangled, branches
dichotomous erecto-patent, middle articulations 4—5 times longer
than broad, capsules urceolate shortly pedunculate. Conferva
urceolata, Lightf MSS.—Dillw. Conf t. G.—E. Dot. t. 2365.
On rocks and the larger Algae, not uncommon.— 3— 9 inches high,
dark-red, as thick as horse-hair at the base, loosely entangled in large
bundles, of nearly equal diameter throughout. Articulations very vari-
able, the lowest 5—6, middle 4—5 times longer than broad, the ultimate
ones very short: dissepiments broad and hyaline. Substance rigid, and
scarcely adhering to paper.— Such is the usual state of this plant; but
Dr. Greville finds a variety (if it be only a variety) at the Isle of Bute,
in which the filaments are scarcely a third of their usual diameter, excessively
branched and adhering most closely to paper.
8. P. patens, Grev. (patent Polysiphonia); filaments cartilaginous
sparingly branched entangled beset with short patent recurved
ramuli bi-striate, middle articulations 2—3 times longer
than broad, capsules urceolate subsessile. Hutchinsia patens,
Ag. Sp. Alg.v. 2. p. 71. H. urceolata, Lyngb. Hydroph. Dan.
t. 34— Conf. patens, ? ? Dillw. Syn. Conf. p. 83. t. G.
On the stems of Laminaria digitata, common.— 3—8 inches high,
thicker than horse-hair, loosely matted, dull red. Stems sparingly divided,
but beset throughout their whole length with short patent
branches ; these are, again, more or less thickly furnished with short,
remarkably recurved and squarrose ramuli, which constitute the most
striking characteristic of the species :
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if indeed it be really distinct from
P. urceolata. Whether this be the Conf. patens of Dillwyn or not, I
am unable to determine, the only specimen of that species which I have
seen, being in a very young and imperfect state, and I am not aware that
it was ever found in fruit.
* * Filaments polystriate.
\ Rigid ; strice 3, ramuli spiniform.
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9. P. spinulosa, Grev. (spinous Polysiphonia); " dark red,
branches divaricate somewhat rigid, the ramuli short straight
subulate divaricate, articulations about equal in length and
breadth, three-tubed." Grev. Crypt. Fl. t. 90.—Hutchinsia
spinulosa, Ag. Sp. Alg. v. 2. p. 75.
Sea-shores, extremely rare. Appin, Capt. Curmichael, who only found
one specimen.
10. P. parasitica, Grev. (parasitic Polysiphonia) ; rigid,
branches distichous bi-tripinnate, pinnulse alternate erect spiniform,
articulations as long as broad three-tubed.— Conferva
jxirasitica, Huds.—E.Bot.t. 1429. Dillw. Conf. Syn. p. 87