42 S P O R O C H N O ID E A i . [Sporochnus.
ish and semitransparent, in the pencils green, becoming yellower by
age. In drying, the plant adheres to paper.
In consulting Mr Dawson Turner’s work, for his description of this
species, I was not a little gi-atified to observe, that he has there recorded
his opinion, that the present individual and its nearest allies, with Conferva
villosa of Hudson, Fucus aculeatus, and Tperhaps Fucus ligulatus
and viridis, would at some time be found to constitute a distinct and
natural family. I was not awai-e of this opinion until I entered upon the
description of the species before us, and feel the more confirmed in my
arrangement, since I find it suggested by one of equal penetration and
experience.
2. S p o r o c h n u s v il l o s u s .
Frond cylindrical, remotely and repeatedly pinnated, almost capillary,
pinnse opposite (sometimes solitary), the stem and branches minutely
nodose, with whorls of delicate filaments arising from the knobs.
Sporochnus villosus, A g . S p . A lg . v . i . p . 155. S y s t. A lg . p . 260. S p r e n g . S p . P I . v . 4. p . 329.
Conferva villosa, H u d s . F I . A n g . p . 603. Sm . E n g . B o t. t . 546., n o t g o o d . D illw .
C o n f . t. 37.
H a b . In the sea. Annual. Summer and autumn. Cornwall, Fhid-
son. Yarmouth Beach, Turner. Rocks at the Mumbles, near Swansea,
Dillwyn- Anglesea, Rev. H. Davies. Beach at Corton and
Gunton, Suffolk, Mrs Fowler. Torquay, Mrs Griffiths. Weymouth,
Rev. M- J. Berkeley- Frith of Forth, at Prestonpans, Mr Hasell.
Root a little disk. Fronds one or several from the same base, six
inches to near three feet in length, very slender and filiform, in large
plants twice or thrice pinnated, but often simply pinnate, the pinnse of
various lengths, often several inches, remote, sometimes alternate, but
oftener opposite, frequently there is a solitary one between each pair.
The knohs on the frond are less than a line asunder, and are whorled
with beautiful, very delicate, branched, green filaments, about two lines
in length, which are so numerous that the younger branches are thickly
clothed with them. Fructification unknown. Substance cartilaginous,
becoming flaccid on removal from the water. Colour yellowish-
gi-een. It adheres to paper in drying, and becomes of a purer green
colour,
It is mentioned by Dillwyn, and repeated by Agardh, that the whorls
of filaments occur only on every fourth or fifth knot. In a fine speciSporochnus.
] S P O R O CI IN O I D E iE. 43
men, gathered by Mr Hasell in the Frith of Forth, every knot is beautifully
feathered by them. Mr Turner has remarked, that it generally
accompanies the preceding species ; it does so in the Frith of Forth,
on the coast of which Mr Hasell was so fortunate as to find them at
the same time and place. They appear to grow in deep water, as the
specimens he obtained were entangled in the fishermen’s nets. A curious
circumstance was remarked by this gentleman, which deserves to
be recorded. The fresh specimens, when spread upon paper, rendered
it transparent, as if it had been touched with oil : but in a very short
time the transparency quite disappeared.
■M ■
3. S p o r o c h n u s r h iz o d e s . Tab. VI.
Frond cylindrical, filiform, irregularly branched, the branches sub-
dichotomous, and more or less attenuated, rough, and almost twisted
in appearance, with the wartlike fructification.
Sporochnus rhizodes, Ag . S p . A lg . v . 1. p . 156. S y s t . A lg . p . 260. S p r e n g . S p . P I.
V. 4. p . 329.
Chordaria rhizodes, A g . S y n . p . 15. L y n g b . H y d r o p h . D a n . p . 52. t . 13.
Chordaria paradoxa, L y n g b . H y d r o p h . D a n . p . 53. t . 14.
Fucus rhizodes, T u m . H i s t . F u c . t . 235.
Conferva verrucosa, Sm . E n g . B o t. 1. 1688, in c o r r e c t.
H ab. In the sea, attached to other Alg®. Annual. Summer.
Southampton, Miss Biddulph. Coast of Cornwall, Stackhouse. Sidmouth,
Mrs Grffiths. Torquay. Brighton Beach, Mr Borrer.
Bantry Bay, Miss Hutchins.
Root a minute disk. Fronds four to sixteen inches in length, very
slender-filiform, a good deal branched in a subhorizontal and straggling
manner ; the branches partly alternately and partly dicbotomously divided,
the lower ones several inches long. Fructification wart-like;
the warts distinct or confluent, and rendering the frond rough and distorted.
Each wart is composed of a mass of radiating moniliform filaments,
the uppermost joints of which appear to be converted into deciduous
brownish seeds.
Substance somewhat cartilaginous, but flaccid, especially after exposure
to the air. Colour pale yellowish-brown. In drying it shrinks,
and adheres to paper, changing to a greenish colour, except in old specimens,
which often become blackish.
Having received an authentic specimen of Chordaria paradoxa,
Lyngb., from my friend Professor Hornemann, I am enabled to follow
Agardh without hesitation in referring it to this place.