P la t e CXVI.
HYPNEA PURPURASCENS, Harv.
G e n . C h a e . Frond filiform, cartilaginous, continuous, much branched, cellular
; with a dense, more or less evident fibio-oellular axis, surrounded
by several rows of angular cells, the innermost of wliich are largest,
the outer gradually smaller to the circumference. Fructification of
two kinds on distinct individuals ; 1, spherical tubercles [coccidia),
sessile or immersed in the ramuli, containing a mass of small spores
on a central placenta; 2, transversely parted tetraspores imbedded in
the cells of the surface. H v p n e a [Lamour),— aa. alteration of
Eypnum, the name of a genus of Mosses, in allusion to the mossy
character of some of the original species.
H y p n e a purpwascens; frond dull purplish-red, excessively and irregularly
branched, bushy, cartilaginous, soft; branches alternate, elongate,
densely clothed with slender, many times divided branclilets, whose
ultimate divisions are setaceous; tubercles spherical, immersed in the
ramuli.
Geacilaria purpurascens, Grev. Alg. Brit. p. 122.
P l o o a r ia p u rp u ra s c e n s , Endl. 3rd Suppl. p . 5 1 .
Cystoolonium purpui-ascens, Kiite. Bhyc. Gen. p. 404. t. 58. f. 1.
Gigartina purpurascens, Lamour. Ess. p. 136. Lyngi. Hyd. Ban. p. 46.
t. 12. Hrev. El. Edin. p. 290. Hooh. Br. FI. vol. ii. p. 299. Harv. in
Mack. Ft. H ii. part 3. p. 200. Harv. Man. p. 73. Wyatt, Ala. Banm.
no. 74.
Sp h /erooooous pm-pura scens, Ag. Sp. Alg. vol. i. p . 3 1 8 . Ag. Syst. p . 2 3 6 .
Spreng. Syst. Veg. vol. iv. p . 3 3 9 . Hook. El. Scot. p a r t 2. p . 1 3 4 . El.
.Dan. 1 . 1 8 3 5 .
Fuous pui-purascens, Huds. Bl. Ang. p. 589. Sm. E. Bot. t. 1243. Turn. Syn.
p. 357. Tm-n. Hist. Fuc. t. 9.
F u cu s tuberculatus, Lightf. FI. Scot. p. 226.
Var. cirrhosa; irregularly branched and variously distorted, the branches
zig-zag, here and there swoUen, the apices lengthened into tendrils,
which coil round the stems of neighbouring plants.
F u cu s tuberculatus, f t lig h tf. El. Scot. p. 927.
Gigartina purpurascens, f t cirrhosa, Lyngb. Hyd. Ban. p. 46.
I I a b . On rocks and stones, within tide marks. Very common on all the
British shores. Annual. Summer.
Geoge. Dis t e . Atlantic shores of Europe and North America.
Desoe. Moot fibrous. Eronds from six inches to two feet in length, cylindiical,
as thick as a crow’s quill at base, slightly widening towards the middle,
and again tapering to the apex, very much branched and bushy. Main stem
2 F 2