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EHODOPHYCEÆ.
times carried from one locality to another stones bearing individuals of
this species, which continued to prosper in spite of the change of habitation,
I steeped many of them in lukewarm water, afterwards in boiling,
and no part of the Baù'achosper^n appeared, nnder the microscope,
to have undergone the slightest disorganization by these immersions,
and certain sprigs, replaced in their native place, continued to vegetate
after these experiments. I do not think that there exist other vegetables
which boiling water does not immediately disorganize, there are not
others that can resist temperatures so opposite.”—Bory.
Plate CX XIII. Portion of filament X 200 diam.
var. B o lto n i. Cooke.
This variety differs in the large size and very globose form
of the joints of the whorls. The apices are very often setiform.
S i z e . C e l lu le s '0 2 5 x ’0 2 , o r -0 2 2 x -0 1 8 m m .
This variety, found by Mr Thomas Bolton, of Birmingham, seems to
differ suffloiently to be worthy of notice as a distinot variety. In colour
it was a beautiful green, with a tendency to pass into blue in drying.
Plate CXXIV. Portions of a filament X 200 diam.
var. sta g n a le . Ag.
One or two inohes long, blue or steel-blue. Whorls of the
stem confluent, of the branches distant.
Eabh. Alg. Eur. iii., 406.
Batrachosperma ludibunda stagnalis, Bory. Ann. Mus. xx.,
p. 42.
Batrachospermum stagnale, Hass. Alg. p 107.
Conferva f ontana nodosa, &c.. Dill. Muse. f. 44.
“ This variety has great resemblance in form and diameter to eon-
fusum ; it is nevertheless shorter, bnt as thick. Its whorls are round
and distinct ; they are more approximated the one to the other in the large
stems, about which they are sometimes even confused. Their colour is
a greenish-yellow, pale and livid.’’—Hassall.
var. a lp e str e , Slmttlewortli.
Frond black, very mucous, much branched, alternately forming
very obtuse angles with the principal filaments . Whorls of
the stem sphærical, distinct, but approximate, branches com-
Batrachospermum alpestre, Hass. Alg. I l l , t. 14, f. 2.
“ This species is easily recognized by the eye alone, either in its recent
or dried state ; in the former its size, great lubricity, je tty black colour,
and approximate, yet for the most part, exactly sphærical whorls, are
remarkable ; in the latter, in which also the black tint is preserved, it
may be distinguished by the multiplicity of its branches, which are,
except the primary ones, exceedingly short and irregular, and issue from
the main filaments almost at right angles, and by their non-moniliform
appearance. In drying, also, it shrinks considerably.”—Hassall.
var. h e lm in to sum . Bory Ann. d. Mus. t. 29, /. 2.
Filaments branched, pyramidal, naked below, branches simple,
subpinnate, acute whorls contiguous, compressed.
Batrachosperma helmintosa, Bory Ann. Mus. xx. p. 33.
Batrachospermum helmintosum, Hass. Alg. p. 105.
“ The stems of this beautiful speoies scarcely exceed 2 inches in length.
They are fine, and denuded at their base, which appears yellow.
Numerous branches proceed from i t ; they are somewhat subulate, and
diminish in length in such a way that they incline from the extremities
of the plant, and give it a pyramidal appearance. The whorls are compressed,
voluminous, horizontal, and so approximated that they cannot
acquire the globular form ; they become confused, and form round the
stems a continuous cylinder of mucosity. The diameter of this cylinder
equals often that of the plume of a little bird. The branches are not less
thick at their insertion. The colonr of the plant is obscure, of a bluish
and unoertain green.”—Bory.
V00-. bambusinum . Bory. Ann. d. Mus. i. 29, /. 1.
Filaments sparingly branched, branches simple, cells much
elongated, whorls minute, distant.
Batrachosperma bambusina, Bory Ann. Mus. xx. p. 32.
Batrachospermum bombusinum (Bory). Hass. Alg. 103, t.
13, f. 3.
“ Its colour is of the most elegant green; but if the specimens be not
quickly prepared they very soon turn black upon the paper. From a
principal filament, 2.4 inches long, proceed many long, slender, loose
branches, simple, or having sometimes here and there scattered, very
small branches, which are never divided. The articulations of the
principal stem, and of the larger branches, are for the most part naked;
their point of contact is dilated in such a manner as to resemble the rods
of bamboos. As to the whorls, they are rounded, smaller than those of
the neighbouring species, composed of very compact branchlets. Their
simple ramuli are likewise shorter than in tlie other Batrachosperms;
three or four rounded joints compose them; the ciliform appendage
which terminates them is remarkable. Some ramuli, shorter than those
of the whorl, cover also the inferior part of the articulations, which have
the appearance of reversed cones.”—Bory.
Batrachospe imum v a gum . (Roth.) Ag. Syst. 52.
Vaguely branched, 1-3 inches long, brownish or bluish-green ;
inferior internodes covered with a dense mass of branchlets, the
superior naked, or nearly so, apical joints of the branchlets
attenuated into a long bristle.
Siz e . Cellules '025 x '012 mm.
Eabh. Alg. Eur. iii., 406. Kiroh. Alg. Schles. 46. Eng.
F l . v , 388. Eng. Bot. ii., 197. Harv. Man. 119. Hass. Alg.
109, t. 63, f. 2. Kutz. Spec. 586.
Batrachosperma turfosa, Bory Ann. des Mus. xx., t. 32, f. 1.
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