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composed of dense wliorls of exceedingly minute, glassy filaments, frequently
occupy the place of tetraspores in the involucres. Colour, a fine transparent
crimson, instantly discharged, with a crackling noise, in fresh water.
Substance rather rigid and crisp, becoming flaccid after exposure to the air.
In drying the plant adheres, but not very closely, to paper.
A long known and beautiful plant, found on all the British
shores, and widely dispersed through the ocean ; being found not
only in the Atlantic, but in several parts of the Southern Pacific
Ocean. Prom Van Dieman’s Land I have seen very numerous
specimens undistinguishable from British-grown ones.
When quite fresh, it is remarkably crisp and firm in substance,
the points of its filaments standing firmly out, when the tuft is
removed from the water. But it very rapidly becomes flaccid,
and if dropped into fresh water, the membranous walls of its
filaments burst asunder with violence, and with a sharp crackling
noise, discharging the contents of the cells into the water. These
form a fine powder of a brilliant carmine colour, and might, no
doubt, be used as a pigment if the plant could be collected in
sufficient quantity. Paper stained with this powder retains its
brilliancy of colour in the Herbarium for many years. These
remarks apply equally to other species of the genus.
I may add that, delicate as the structure of this plant assuredly
is, uo marine Alga is more patient of confinement, or may be
more easily domesticated. A tuft placed in a closed bottle of
sea water in April 1846, is now, after more than two years’ imprisonment,
apparently as fresh and healthy as when first taken
from the sea. The water has not been changed, and is perfectly
clear and pure. The plant has not grown much, as the bottle
is a small one, but its threads reach nearly to the surface of the
water ; and no decay has taken place.
Fig. 1. Gk ip p it h s i A seta cea ; tu ft:—o f the natural size. 2. Upper part of a
fertile branch. 3. Involucre with tetraspores. 4. Ramulus from the same.
5. A tetraspore. 6. Involucre with /« a e /te . 7. Ramulus from the same:—
all more or less highly magnifie,d.
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