Class a n d O u d e r CRYPTOGAMIA ALGÆ, Lirm.—N a t. Ord. ALGÆ, Jms.
De Cand.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Fl'ons varia (plana, compressa vel cylindrica) . Fructus, capsuloe sphoericoe nucleo
globoso sporidiorum.
Frond various (plane, compressed or cylindrical). Fructification, spherical
capsules containing a globular nucleus of sporidia.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
S p h æ r o c o c c u s } erectus ; fronde cartilaginea, tereti, f Iformi, hi-unciali, ramis
simpliciusculis, paucis, erectis, capsulis sessilibus ghbosis.
S. frond cartilaginous, terete, filiform, two inches high, the branches nearly
simple, few, erect, capsules sessile, globose.
H a b . In the sea; February. Discovered in England by Mrs G r i f f i t h s at
Tor-Abbey rocks, Meadfoot, Waldon rocks, &c. in T o rbay; and at Sidmouth.
Fronds of a dull orange-red colour, about two inches in height, a considerable
number arising together from a thin, expanded, radicular base,
erect, cartilaginous, cylindrical, hardly thicker than a hog’s bristle, divided
from one to three times in a dichotomous manner, the branches
nearly erect, somewhat acute. On some plants, the branches are terminated
with shortly lanceolate pods, of a semitransparent substance, and
very dilute orange-red colour, having the circumference set round with
numerous imbedded oblong granules. These pods at length fall off,
and leave the summit of the branches truncated. At the same time
with the foregoing, b u t on distinct plants, sessile capsules are produced,
chiefly in an aggregate manner towards the ends of the branches, of a
globular form, half the size of turnip seed, destitute of a mamillate
apex, and containing oblong sporidia. The plant is invariably found
growing perfectly erect, generally more or less immersed in sand, often
more than h a lf its height.
At first sight, this very singular little plant might be taken
for an extraordinary state of Sphcerococcus confervoides; and
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