The English flora - SeaweedAfrica

338 ALGiE CONFERVOIDE^. [Calithamnion.
2. G. midtifida, Ag. (multifid Griffithsid) ; filaments slender,
whorls distant, ramuli dichotomous incurved. Ag. Sp. Alg.
v. 2. p. 133.— Conferva multi/ida, E. Bot. t. 1816. Dillw. Conf.
[3. pilifera ; Ag. branches distichous sub-opposite,
Syn. p. 75.
—
ramuli elongated.
On many coasts of the south of England, Mrs. Griffiths, Mr. Borrer,
&c. Bantry, Miss Hutchins. Miltown Malbay, W. H. Harvey.— /3. at
Torquay, Mrs. Griffiths.—2— 6 inches high, slender, much branched,
rose-red. Articulations of the stem very long. Capsules minute, elliptical,
with a broad pellucid limbus, sessile on the lower part of the
ramuli, secund or opposite, occasionally tufted. Favellcs roundish,
pedunculated and involucrated, containing minute granules. The cap-
sules are rather rare, but Mrs. Griffiths has sent us fine specimens in
this state.
—
** filaments dichotomous, naked.
3. G. barbdta, Ag. (pencilled Griffithsid); filaments dichotomous
setaceous, articulations 5—6 times as long as broad, the
uppermost emitting long opposite multifid fibres.
—
—
Ag. Sp.
Alg. v. 2. p. 132 Conferva barbata, E. Bot. t. 1814. Dillw.
Conf. Syn. p. 75.
Very rare. Beach at Brighton, Mr. Borrer.
4. G. cordllina, Ag. (Coral-like'Griffithsid) ; filaments thickish
gelatinous dichotomous, axils patent, articulations swollen
upwards, 2—4 times longer than their diameter. Ag. Sp.
Alg. v. 2. p. 127. Conferva corallina, Dillw. Conf. t. 98. E.
Bot. t. 1815.
South of England, not uncommon: more rare in the north, and in
Scotland. Hartly, Northumberland, Mr. Winch. Appin, Capt. Car-
michael.
5. G. setdcea, Ag. (setaceous Griffithsid); filaments dichotomous
setaceous rigid straight, axils very acute, articulations
cylindrical 5—6 times longer than broad. Ag. Sp. Alg. v. 2.
p. 129.— Conferva setacea, Dillw. Conf. t. 82. E. Bot. t. 1689.
Sea-shore, not uncommon.—Mrs. Griffiths remarks, that on immersion
in fresh water " it twists, the skin bursts with a slight explosion and
emits the colouring matter which sinks in fine powder." Mr. Sconce
has noticed a similar " irritability." Involucres raised on lateral clavate
peduncles, 2—3 lines in length, their ramuli simple or forked, bearing,
on the interior faces, minute, sphaerical, crowded, trisporous capsules,
furnished with very broad pellucid pericarps. Favellce I have never
seen, but Mrs. Griffiths communicates from Torbay, specimens producing
a very extraordinary modification of fruit, resulting probably from
disease; and Mr. Borrer informs me that a similar appearance was observed
by Miss Biddulph many years ago, and communicated by her to
Mr. Sowerby. This consists in minute ovate bodies, apparently composed
of whorls of extremely slender filaments, invested with jelly and
attached, like the capsules, to the interior faces of the involucral bractecs.
64. Calithamnion. Lyngb. Calithamnion.
Filaments articulate, mostly pinnated, one-tubed; dissepiments