P l a t e LVII.
GLOIOSIPHONIA CAPILLARIS, Carm.
Gen. C h a r. Frond cylindrical, tubular, gelatinous ; the periphery composed
of a thin stratum of longitudinal, interlaced fibres, clothed externally
with short, horizontal, branched, moniliform filaments. Frnctification
spherical masses of spores [favellidia), immersed in the moniliform
filaments, to whose bases they are attached. G l o io s ip h o n ia [Carm)
■—from foXos, viscid, and a-i<j>a>v, a .
G l o io s ip h o n ia cap
G l o i o s i p h o n i a capillaris, Carm. Alg. Appin. MS. Berh. Gl. o f Br. Alg. t. 17.
f. 3. Hare, in Mack. M. Hib. part 3. p. 187. Harv. Man. p. 49. Me Calla,
Alg. Hib.
M e so g lo ia c a p illa ris , Ag. Sgst. p . 5 1 . Harv. in Hook. Br. M. vol. ii. p . 3 8 6 .
G ig a e t in a capillaris, Lamour. Ess. p.
G ig a e t in a lu b ric a , Lyngb. Hyd. Ban. p . 4 5 . 1 . 1 2 {Sec. A g ) .
F u cn s capillaris, Huds. El. Ang. p. 591. TFith. vol. iv. p. 115. Turn. Syn.
vol. ii. p. 370. Hist. t. 31. E. Bot. t. 2191.
H ab. On submarine rocks, growing in tide-pools, near low-water m ark ;
frequently cast on shore from deeper water. Annual. Summer. At
Sheerness, and in Devonshire and Cornwall, Hudson. Scarborough,
Sir T. Frankland. Anglesea, Bev. H. Davies. Sidmouth and Meadfoot,
Mrs. Criffiths. Bantry Bay, Miss Hutchins. Appin, Captain
Carmichael. Glenarm, Dr. Drummond. Eoundstone Bay, Mr. Me’
Calla. Howth and Balbriggan, Miss Cower. Saltcoats, on shale,
Bew. D. Landshorough. Arran, D. Landshorough, Jun. Mount’s Bay,
Mr. Balfs. Eahnouth, Miss Warren. Jersey, Miss White and Miss
Turner.
G e o g e . D is t k . Atlantic shores of Eiu-ope, from Norway to Spain.
D e s c k . Boot a small disc. Fronds, several from the same base, from three to
twelve inches in length, cyUndrical, varying in diameter from a- quarter of a
Une to a line and upwards, rising with an undivided stem which is tliickest
in the middle and gradually tapers to either end, being reduced at its apex
to a capillary fineness. The stem is generally bare of branches for a short
space above its base, varying in different specimens from half an inch to an
inch and a half. From this point to its summit it is closely clothed with
lateral branches, several times compounded until the ultimate ramuU are
reduced to small setaceous processes. The lower branches are longest, the
upper graduaUy diminishing in length and in composition, and the outline
is consequently ovate-oblong, AU are more or less quadrifarious, giving a
bushy character to the frond, and all taper at the base and are attenuated at
the apex. They are either opposite or alternate. The/roMif is tubular, either
empty or filled with a ivatery gelatine. Its walls are composed of closely
interwoven, branching, longitudinal fibres, tlu’ough whose joints runs a