F am. X . M O N O C Y S T EÆ .
The reproduction of this family agrees precisely with tha t
of Choetophora and Draparnaldia, and perhaps Batrachospermum,
which genera it Avould perhaps have been more natural
th a t It should have been made to follow.
I t consists of three genera of freshwater Algæ, Cladophora
Kiitzing (a genus synonymous with my genus Microspora),
Coleochæte, and Lynghya.
In the species of this family we have no union and intermingling
of the contents of two cells, but each cell contains
all the requisites for the perpetuation of the species, viz.
zoospores and the fertilizing vesicles.
When the zoospores have been fertilized, the cells swell
up, the increase in the size of the cells being determined by
the developement of the zoospores, and which developement
proceeds to such an extent as to occasion the rupture of the
membranes of the cells, the zoospores escaping through the
apertures thus formed.
This inflation of the reproductive cells of the branched
Confervoe and of the Lynghyæ does not appear to have been
noticed by any other observer save Vaucher, and by him only
in the Batrachosperms ; and yet it is of frequent occurrence,
and affords a character whereby species may be often distinguished
from each other, although at the same time it
changes the ordinary appearance of the species so much as to
lead sometimes to the description of specimens so altered as
distinct species ; and this has doubtless been the case with
Conf erva fra c ta of the “ Flora Danica,” which is C. crispata
in a state of reproduction.
The species of this family are for the most part attached,
and present the double mode of growth described in the I n troduction,
viz. tha t of longitudinal and lateral developement
of the cells.
A
Sub-fam. i. Cl a d o p h o r e æ .
18. C L A D O PH O R A Xwte.
Char. Filaments attached, much branched, not setigerous,
and not invested with secondary cells.
Derivation. From uXaBos, a branch, and <popsco, to bear.
This important genus I established in the “ Annals of Nat.
Hist.” vol. xi. p. 363., under the name of Microspora. Subsequently
finding the same genus to have been characterised
by Kützing in his “ Phycologia Generalis,” I have been induced
to adopt his generic name, it appearing to be the more
appropriate.
The genus should contain amongst the freshwater Confervoe
C. glomerata and f7. crispata, and the majority of the marine
branched Confervoe. Conf. oerea and its numerous allies
should form another genus, agreeing in its reproduction
closely with Cladophora, but differing from tha t genus in
the simplicity of its filaments : this genus might be denominated
Aplonema.* The filaments when dry are destitute
of gloss, like those of the Cystospermeoe, and do not adhere
well to paper.
1. Cla do pho ra glomerata.
Plates L V I, L V I I . Figs. 1, 2.
Char. Filaments tufted, bushy ; somewhat rigid, bright green,
shining. Yx&aches. crowded, irregular, erect; the ultimate
ramuli secund, suhfasciculate. Articulations/owr to eight
times longer than hroad.
C. glomerata Dillw. Conf. t. 13.; Eng. Bot. t. 2192.;
Manual, p. 134. Microspora glomerata Hassall, In
Annals, vol. xi. C. Brownii Harv. 1. c. p. 356.; also
in Manual, p. 134.; Dillw. Suppl. t. D. C. pulvinata
Brown, MS.; W y a tt, Alg. Dan. No. 225. C. agagro-
From ¿TrXof, simple, and vrnia, a thread
p 3