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M O N EM A coMoiDEs.
Hair-like Monema.
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C i.A ss AND O r d e r CRYPTOGAMIA ALGAl, Linn—N a t . O r d . ALGJE, Juss.
De Cand. §c.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Fila libera, continua, iubulata, eapillaria, g a n u la oblonga vel subeUiptica inclu-
dentia.
Filaments free, continuous, tubular, capiUary, containing oblong or subelliptical
granules.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
M onema c om o id e s ; Jilis laxe ccespitosis,ßaccidis,JerrugineoJ'uscis, irregidari-
ter ramosis, ramis atienuatis, acutiusculis, granulis geminatis oblongis.
M. filaments loosely tufted, flaccid, reddish-brown, irregularly branched,
branches attenuated, subacute, the granules oblong, geminate.
S c y to n e m a com o id e s , Ag. Syn. p. 1 1 2— Syst. Alg. p. 4 1 .—Spreng. Sp. PI.
V. 4 . p. 363.
Co n fe rv a comoides, Dillw. Corf. t. 27-—Engl. Bot. t. 1700.
H ab. In the sea, growing plentifully on the surface of smooth rocks and
stones, and less frequently from large Algte, wooden posts, &c. from
April to October. Very abundant near Sidmouth, and many other
parts of the coast.
Filaments growing from rocks and stones in a tufted b u t not very crowded
manner, b u t lying over each other (when not immersed in the water)
so as to resemble the hair on the head of a young child; about an inch
in length, slender, very flexible and flaccid, branched very irreg u la rly ;
the branches given off acutely, sometimes remotely, at others almost in
a fasciculate manner, attenuated at their extremity. Sometimes two or
more filaments appear to coalesce for the greater part o f their length,
and afterwards divide. Granules cylindrical-oblong, geminate, having
no tendency to form parallel lines, b u t unconnected, and in no marked
order. Structure decidedly tubular, b u t the membrane is very delicate
and transparent. Colour when recent a reddish-brown, changing to a
greenish-grey after having been dried.
ji
ii:
Having examined this plant very carefully in its recent
state, and traced it from its first appearance to maturity, I am
VOL. VI.