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Root scutate. Fronds somewhat tufted, two to six inches high,
pinnate or bipinnate, the main stem linear, attenuated, mostly less
than a line wide, flexuose, and unequal in breadth in different parts,
set irregularly with nearly horizontal pinnæ, of various lengths, from
two lines to two inches, sometimes crowded, sometimes remote, attenuated
at each extremity, towards their apex mostly naked, but at
their lower part often bearing a smaller series of a similar description,
and equally irregular. Fructification, consisting of clusters of very
mmute tubercles in the substance of the pinnæ or pinnulæ, furnished
with a pore, and scarcely at all prominent. Seeds very minute, elliptical
ovate. Substance between cartilaginous and membranaceou's,
somewhat lubricous. Colour pinkish or purplish red, turning greenish,
and at length white in decay. In drying it adheres slightly to paper,
and becomes rather firm and corneous.
This recent and highly interesting addition to the botany of this
country we owe to the activity of Miss Cutler of Sidmouth, from
whom I have had the pleasure of receiving specimens in perfect fructification.
As she has found it on both coasts of Devonshire, it is pro-
bably not very unfrequent in the south-west of England, and may
have been passed over for Gelidium corneum, which it resembles more
than any other British Alga. The Devonshire specimens are much
smaller than those I have from the coast of France and the Mediterranean,
and less uniformly pinnated : some of them, indeed, are composed
only of a mere flexuose stem, and three or four simple elongated
branches. Others, again, are very closely pinnated for a limited space,
the pinnæ not being more than three or four lines in length.
The plate given by Mr Dawson Turner of this species will he of
little assistance to the British botanist; for, though it be undoubtedly
con-ect, it represents an unusual state of the plant; at least, one that j
have never seen, and which is very unlike the British specimens
Ge n u s XLI. C R ^T O S PO R A , Ag, Tab. XVI.
G e n . Ch a r . Frond siibgelatinous, filiform, branched, rose-
colour, ultimate ramuli setaceous, swelling into lanceolate
receptacles, composed of naked, brancbed filamenfs
radiating from an axis, in the centre of which is situate
the obscure fructification: (minute seeds or capsules).
■Ob s . This highly curious genus is placed by Professor Agardh
among the C o n fer v o id eæ ; and it must be acknowledged there is
something very paradoxical in its appearance- I cannot, however, perceive
the least trace of any interruption of continuity in the stem or
branches, and am therefore induced to transfer it to the F l o r id eæ .
The structure of the stem is cellular, the cellules large in the centre,
and gradually smaller towards the circumference. In regard to the
fructification, I have in vain attempted to obtain a satisfactory analysis.
Mr Dawson Turner describes it as composed of extremely minute,
oblong, dark red, sessile seeds.
It has been very justly remarked, that the nature of the ramuli
seem to indicate some affinity with Mesogloia. The same observation,
however, cannot be made pf the stem and branches, whose structure
is totally different. So few opportunities have occurred of studying
the plant in a perfect state, that we are probably still ignorant of
the real or fully developed fructification. The generic name is expressive
of the seeds being accompanied or protected by filaments.
1. C h a e to s po r a W ig g i i . Tab. XVI.
Clioitospora Wiggii, Ag. S y s t. A lg . p . 146.
Fucus Wiggii, T u r n , in L in n . T r a n s , v. 6. p . 135. t . 10. S y n . F u c . n . 362. H is t. F u q
1 . 102. S r a . E n g . ^ o t . 1. 1165. t
Cladostephus Wiggii, S p r e n g . S p . P I . v . 4. p . 347.
H a b . In the sea. Annual. Summer. Yarmouth beach, Mr Lilly
Wigg. Beach at Brighton, Mr Borrer. Folkstone, Miss Fverett,
Sidmouth, Mrs Griffiths. Bantry Bay, Miss Hutchins.
Root a minute disk. Frond three to eight inches long, cylindrical,
filiform, the main stem nearly half a line in thickness, gradually attenuated
to the extremity, simple, once or twice divided, beset with
branches throughout its whole length; branches springing from all
sides of the stem, from one to several inches in length, nearly horizontal,
mostly undivided, two or three lines apart, bearing a second and
shorter series, and sometimes even a third. All the branches are more
or less beset with little ramuli from one to three lines iu lengtli,
simple or forked, and as fine as a hair. Fructification, very imperfectly
understood, A number of little ramuli swell into a laiiceo-.
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