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vcstigatioii. We can at present (and it is the opinion of
A g a r d h himself) scarcely venture to form the genera upon
distinct and positive characters. Much, however, has been
done already; and the broad view which A g a r d h has taken
of the whole Order, must eventually throw each plant into its
proper place. But at present it is not surprising that practical
investigators of the Algce should be frequently involved in
perplexity. Such is the case with my friend Captain C a r m
i c h a e l and myself, in regard to the plants referable to the
three genera Schizonema, Gloionema, and Hydrurus. It
appears to us, that the filaments of Schizonema ^-punctata
and S. Dillwynii, are. truly branched like any other capillary
Algce, and of a simple structure throughout; so that they cannot
enter into the genus Schizonema, as defined by my friend
A g a r d h . On the other hand, Schizonema Smithii, A g ., according
to the observations of Captain C a r m i c h a e l , is a filiform
mass of gelatine, apparently quite destitute of tube, but composed
of several slender agglutinated threads, separating at the
extremity, and each containing a single series of granules.
This plant, therefore, is a real Schizonema. For such other
Agardhian species as have a simple structure, I propose the generic
name of Monema; a division which I conceive will greatly
facilitate the study of these algse. The filaments of fllonema
never really divide like those of Schizonema; for even when
they sometimes appear to be in a state of longitudinal coalescence,
they arc only in juxtaposition, as represented in Dii.i.-
WYN’s figure of Conferva fa’tida.
Fig. I. M. quadripimclatmn, natural size. Fig. 2 . FiUimcnls. Fig. 3. Portion
o f a filament with granules. Fig. 4. Appearance o f the gran ules before maturity,
borrowed from Lyngbye. Fig. 5. Granules, as they appear after escaping
from the filaments ; magnified.