The English flora - SeaweedAfrica

Calithamnion.] ALG.E CONFERVOIDE^. 347
thick cartilaginous branched in every direction, penultimate
branchlets dense quadrifarious repeatedly dichotomous rouudtopped,
axils patent, apices short bifid, articulations of the
branches swollen at the joints thrice as long as broad.
Torquay, Mrs. Griffiths.
lin, W. H. Harvey.—2—4
Kingston Harbour and Killiney, near Dub-
inches high, flaccid and spongy ; stems
shrubby; branches long, patent, thickly clothed with short, secondary
branchlets, about half an inch in length, which are again covered with a
third set of branchlets, spreading on all sides and giving the plant a
shrubby character, much resembling C. Arbuscula. Main articulations
veined.
lobed.
Capsules solitary, axillary, elliptical. Favcllcc roundish or
29. C. interruptum, Ag. (interrupted Calithamnion); " purplish
much branched forked capillary, joints four times as long
as broad, slightly swelling upwards, capsules on short lateral
stalks elliptical with a transverse separation." Sm—Ag. Sp.^Alg.
v. 2. p. 174.— Conferva interrupta, E.Bot.t. 1838.
At Brighton, Mr. Borrer.— This, 1 believe to be nothing but a trifling
variety of the following.
30. C. pedicelldtum, Ag. (stalk-fruited Calithamnion); tufted,
the branches long slender and little divided, beset with short
alternate sparingly dichotomous secondary ramuli, apices obtuse
scarcely tapered, articulations variable mostly very long, capsules
solitary axillary pedicellate. Ag. Sp. Alg.v. 2. p. 174.
Conferva pedicellata, E. Bot. t. 1817. Dillw. Conf. t. 108.
Rather rare: Brighton, Mr. Borrer. Devonshire, Mrs. Griffiths.
Bantrv, Miss JIn t chins. Miltown Malbay, W. If. Harvey.— 2—6
inches* high, flaccid, as thick as horse-hair ; branches long and little
divided, springing near the base, beset with short dichotomous ramuli
which are often crowded at the apex so as to give the plant a penicillated
appearance; apices always rounded and obtuse. Articulations
extremely variable in length, 4— 12 times longer than broad. Cohmr fine
red, which is rapidly given out in fresh-water, and the plant fades in
drying to a dull dingy-brown. Capsules elliptic-oblong or j>\ riform, dark,
raised on short hyaline pedicells. Very variable in general appearance;
but easily recognised under the microscope b\ its thick, scarcely tapered,
very obtuse and sparingly dichotomous ramuli and its pediceUated darkbrown
capsules' I have carefully compared authentic specimens oi the
/. lint, plant, with individuals figured by Dillwyn, and am convinced
of their .specific identity.
C. branches ///•( ijiiliiv, ramuli alternate >• secund, tubsinpte,—
(snuill plants, rarefy < weeding
—