length, and the fronds often bearing 10 or 12 series of quadripartite
granules. L y n g b y e , besides, describes the fronds of
his plant as terete, and as sometimes, though rarely, becoming
dilated into an Ulva-like membrane ; but in B. calophylla, the
fronds are all plane, and, though differing in relative breadth,
yet in each individual are nearly equal throughout its whole
length, except towards the base, where they are all rather gradually
attenuated. In other respects, the two species greatly
resemble each other.
In regard to these species, my acute friend has also observed,
that their structure seems to indicate an affinity with the
Ulvaceoe, rather than the CoTifervoidece. In this I not only
coincide, hut am of opinion that the whole genus is in the same
predicament. In the irregularity of the diameter of the frond
alone, all the species, except one, deviate greatly from the Con-
fervoideoe. In Bangia velutina, torta, crispa, atro-purpu-
rea, and calophylla, we find a variation in breadth, similar to that
which occurs in Solenia compressa, A g . ( Ulva compressa, L.),
B . Laminarice alone is wanting in this character. But even
without excluding the latter plant, I do not perceive, that, if
the genus Bangia was at once removed to the Ulvaceoe, any
violence would be done to the character of that tribe, as detailed
in the recent and excellent work hy A g a r d h on the Algæ ;
whereas the character there given of the Confervoideoe scarcely
applies to any one species of Bangia ; for the granules cannot,
surely be termed a mode of internal articulation, when more
than one series occur in the same frond. I cannot even avoid
suspecting, that all the species will prove to have plane fronds,
except perhaps B . Laminarioe, a plant which I dare not speak
of with any certainty.
Fig. 1. B. cahphyUa spreading mer a stone, natural size. Fig. 2. Tufts re-
mmed. Fig. 3, A tuft sheming variously shaped fronds. Fig. 4. Portion
q f a frond. Fig, 5. Ditto, with the granules more closely arranged. Fig. 6.
Ditto, with another appearance o f the granules ¡— magm&eA.
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