l'.'d !
S P H A C E L L A R IA r a c e m o s a .
Cluster-fruited Sphacellaria.
C l a s s a n d O i i d e i i CRYPTOGAMIA ALGÆ, i i / i » .— N a t . O b d . ALGÆ , De Cand.
Hook. Grev.
G EN ERIC CHARACTER.
Frans filiformis, articúlala, olivácea, ramis distichis vel dichotomis. Sporulai vel
nudæ, apicibus sphacellatis ramuhrum inclusæ, vel in capsulis.
Frond filiform, jointed, olivaceous, with distichous or dichotomous branches.
Sporules either naked and included in the sphacellated extremities of
the branches, or in capsules.
S P E C IF IC CHARACTER.
S p h a c e l l a r ia r a c e m o s a ; uncialis, cæspifosa, olivácea, subrigida, fronde dicho-
tomo; articulis diámetro æqualibus; capsulis ovalibus, racemosis, peduncu-
latis.
Sp h . an inch in h e ig h t, tu fted , olivaceous, somewhat rig id , th e fronds dichotomous
; articulations equal in le n g th and b re a d th ; capsules oval, ra cemose,
pedunculate.
S p h a c e l l a r i a r a c e m o s a , Grev. FI. Edin. p. 3 1 4 .
Had. Sea shores. Frith of Forth, opposite to Caroline Park, Dr R i c h a r d s
o n . February.
Plant tufted, about an inch in height, of an olive-green or olive-brown colour.
Frond filiform, somewhat rigid, 3 -4 times dichotomous, the dichotomies
acute. Articulations equal in length and breadth, diaphanous to the
base. Summits of tbe branches, not sphacellated in my specimens, but
somewhat dilated and hyaline, as in many other species previous to the
sphacellation making its appearance. Fructif cation, oval capsules, surrounded
by a very narrow pellucid border, pedicellate, and arranged in
a racemose manner on a common jointed peduncle. Racemes suberect,
arising from various parts of the frond.
Sphacellaria is a genus established by L y n g b y e (the
name being derived from cSpaKiKog, gangreena), to include
a small group o f plants comprehended by the older authors
under Conferva, and more recently by A g a r d h under Ce-
ILlI
■ ii