[Ijft
history of this plant, from which it appears that it was known to the
naturalists of France under the name of Bmiontia Calvadosii,
long before it was noticed on the shores of the British Islands.
I was not aware of this fact, when, in 1832, I described, under
the name of Mesogloia purpurea, specimens which were collected
by Mrs. Griffiths, in the autumn of 1828, at Sidmouth. The
resemblance to Bumontia is only an outward one; the structure
is completely that of the Gloiocladiea, and not very unlike that of
Mesogloia vermicularis, though, accordmg to our present systematic
arrangement, these plants belong to different genera, and
even to different families. In altering the genus of this plant,
M. Chauvin had the option of restoring the specific name under
which it was first described, but he has not thought fit to do so.
The structure of this species differs considerably from that of
N. multifidum (already figured at Plate XXXVL), and probably
may justify the future formation of a genus, when the fructification
of both plants shall be more perfectly known. In our K
purpureum, the axis is composed of much more laxly set filaments;
while those of the periphery are less branched, shorter, and
composed of very large, pear-shaped cells. Seen under a lens
of low power, the branches appear like tubes of glass, densely
covered with brilliant purple studs.
Nemaleon purpureum is a rare species on the British shores,
though occasionally thrown up in considerable quantities. This
occurred at Sidmouth when Mrs. Griffiths first found the plant,
but for several succeeding years it did not make its appearance.
The specimens then collected were also of a much brighter
colour, as well as lai’ger and more luxuriant, than any which
have been sent to me from other stations, or than I have myself
gathered. I once found it growing on sandy ground near low-
water mark; but it is more usually seen among rejectamenta
after a gale.
1
Kg. 1. N e m a l e o n ? p u r pu r e u m ; — o f the natural size. 2. Portion of a
brancli:— moderately magnified. 3. Some of the filaments, composing the
same:— highly magnijied.