T
“ Fronds often two feet or more long, and from a line to
two or three inches in diameter, tapering at base, at first
fixed hy a minute root, afterwards detached and freely fioating,
infiated, variously waved or curled, of a full green colour,
fading to yellowish, and finally white.” ^— Harv.
“ In the earliest stage of their developement, the tapering
filaments consist of a single series of cells placed end to end.
Each of these cells afterwards becomes bisected by a longitudinal
line, and other lines subsequently appear, so tha t the
original cells are ultimately divided into several, each of
which, in its turn, enlarges, and is in like manner divided.
From the continued growth and unlimited division of the
cells the filaments increase to an indefinite size, soon lose
their original confervoid character, present a reticulated appearance,
and, instead of being attenuated, become cylindrical
and hollow.
“ In each cell or articulation of the filaments, and when
these are not thicker than a horse hair, a dark central nucleus
is gradually developed, which, there can be no doubt, undergoes
repeated division in the same manner as the reproductive
globules of the Ulvæ. These nuclei often germinate while
still enclosed within the cells in which they were developed,
and while the parent filament retains all its freshness and
vigour, and give rise to the pointed and tapering filaments
first described ; which, in this state, after the rupture of the
parent cells, and while their bases are fixed within them, one
filament in each, bear a strong resemblance to a parasitic
Conferva.
“ This developement, division and growth of cells and reproductive
bodies, appears to be going on continually and successively,
so th a t most specimens of the plant present examples
of each different stage of its formation.
“ The Enteromorpha intestinalis would appear to have a
twofold relation to the Confervoe in its young articulated
filaments, and to the Ulvæ in its reproduction from globules
which undergo repeated division. The tautology of the
specific name is objectionable, and that of lacustris might be
substituted for it.” — Hass.
44. BO TRY D UM Wall.
Char. “ P lan t a spherical vesicular receptacle, filled with a
watery fluid, dehiscent at the apex, terminating below in
radiating tufts o f fibres." — Grev.
Derivation. From florpvs, a bunch o f grapes, which the
clustered fronds somewhat resemble.
1. B otrydum granulatum Grev.
Plate L X X V I I . Fig. 5.
Grev. Alg. Brit. p. 196. t. 19. ; Hooker’s Brit. Flor. 321-
Tremella granulata, E. B. t. 234. Conf. multicapsularis
Dillw. t. 71.? Gongoseira clavata? Kiitzing, Phy. Gen.
p. 281.
Hab. On damp clayey ground, dried up ponds, &o.
Common.
“ Fronds minute, densely clustered on the surface of the
ground, spreading in patches, Vesicle containing a watery
fluid, in which a few granules are sometimes found. In dry
weather the upper part of the vesicle collapses, when they
become cup-shaped.”— Harv.
Kiitzing I believe has not included in his “ Phycologia Ge-
nerahs” the genus Botrydium : he has constituted, however,
a new genus for the Conf. multicapsularis of Dillw., under
the name of Gongoseira, This genus he places amongst the
Protonemeoe, which is probably the position which this curious
production ought to occupy.
“ Thus natural history blends with primitive tradition and record,
affording to our faith a basis of previous probability, with evidence on
every side, in our paths, our fields, our gardens, our woods; in cultivaJ
tion and in the desert; in every fibre, root, stem, leaf, flower, or fruit,
demonstrating the omnipotent all-sustaining omnipresent God.” — J. S.
Duncaris Botanical Theology.