Plate. CCXI.
P l a t e CCXL.
ELACHISTEA FLCICOLA, Pries.
G e n . C h a e . Frond parasitical, consisting of a dense tu ft of free, simple,
articulated, olivaceous filaments, rising from a common tubercular base,
composed of vertical branching fibres closely combined into a cartda-
ginous mass. Fructification, pear-shaped spores attached to the base
of th e filaments, concealed in the tubercle, and frequently accompanied
by paranemata. E l a c h i s t e a {Fries), from eXaxiora, the
from th e small size of these plants.
ELACHiSTBA/Mcitfo/a; tu fts pencilled; filaments elongate, flaccid, membranaceous,
attenuated upwards; articulations once or twice as long as
b ro a d ; tubercular mass spherical.
E l a c h i s t e a fucicola, Pn'ei. M. Scan. p. 317. Aresch. Pug. t. viii. f. 6 -7 .
J. Ag. Sp. Alg. vol. i. p. 13.
Myrionema fucicolum, Endl. 3rd. Suppl. p. 23.
P h y c o p h i l a fucorum, and P. Agardhii, Kiitz. Phyc. Gen. p. 330.
CoNVEEVA fucicola, Velley, Fl. mar. No. 4. Billw. Conf. t. 66. Lyngh. Hyd.
Ban. t. 50. Ag. Syst. p. 103. Harv. in Hoole. Br. M. vol. 11. p. 354. Harv. in
Mack. M. H ii. part. 3. p. 337. Harv. Man. p. 131. Wyatt, Alg. Banm,
no. 193.
Co n p e e v a ferruginea, Ag.
H a b . Parasitical on Fucus
and Autumn. Common.
p . 103.
and F. Î. Annual. Summer
G e o g e . D i s t e . Atlantic shores of Northern Europe. Baltic Sea.
Desob. Pilaments forming brush-like tufts, an inch in length, rising from a
hemispherical, cartilaginous tubercle, which gradually increases in size as
the plant advances in gi-owth. This tubercle is composed of numerous
dichotomous, articulated, vertical filaments, issuing from a common point,
beneath tbe surface of the Pucus on which the parasite grows, and radiating
in all directions. After several forkings the tips of the branches terminate
in a cluster of linear club-shaped fibres or paranemata, three or four of which
spring from each apex, and among these, which constitute X a periphery of
the tubercle, are attached both the spores, and the long filaments which form
the brush-like tuft. Pilaments an inch long, scarcely tapered at the base,
much attenuated to the apex ; the articulations once and a half to twice as
long as broad. Spores at fii'st club-shaped, then pyriform, and at length
ellirioidal. Colour olive-green, becoming brown or foxy.
This is the largest species, the longest known, and the com-
2 G 2
W.F.H. art.stJith..