:p u :u c c x c t .
■W.ILH.id etlith., T. R eev e , irap.
P l a t e CCXCV.
LITOSIPHON LAMINARIÆ, Harv.
G e n . Ch a e . Frond u n b ra n c h ed , cy lin d ric a l, filiform, c artila g in o u s, s u b solid,
a t le n g th tu b u la r, composed of several rows o f c e lls ; th e
surface a reo la ted . Fructification so lita ry or ag g re g a te d , n a k ed spores,
s c a tte re d irreg u la rly over th e surface of th e fro n d . L ito siph o n
(Harv.),— from \iros, slender, an d a tube.
L ito s iph o n Z aoeM Æri«; fro n d s s tellate ly tu fte d , sh o rt, cylindrical, b lu n t,
sh g h tly ta p e rin g a t th e base, sm o o th (or h a iry tow a rd th e apex),
tra n sv e rse ly b an d ed , th e bands close to g e th e r ; spores s c a tte red , or
several in each tra n sv e rse ban d .
L i t o s i p h o n Laminariæ, Harv. Man. ed. 2. p. 43.
D b s m o t e i o i i i j m Laminariæ, Kiitz. Sp. Alg. p. 470.
C i- iiO K O S iP H O N Laminariæ, Harv. in Phyc. Brit. vol. i. p. x . {list o f species.)
B a n g i a Laminariæ, Lyngb. H yd. Dan. p. 84. t. 24. Ag. Syst. p. 75. Hook.
Br. PI. vol. ii. p. 316. Harv. in Mack. M. Hib. part 3. p. 241. Harv Man
ed. 1. p. 172,
A s p e r o c o c c u s ? Laminariæ, J. Ag. Sp. Alg. vol. i. p. 79.
H a b . Parasitical on the fronds of A laria esculenta, common on that plant
in the summer and autumn. Annual.
G b o g r . D i s t r . Atlantic shores of Europe.
D e s c r . Fronds from a quarter to half an inch in length, cylindrical, slio-htly
tapering at the base, then of nearly equal diameter upwards, and endino- in
a blunt point, smooth, or beset toward the summit with slender pellucid
fibres, at first solid, becoming hollow in age from the perishing of the
central cells. Structure built up of two or three or more layers of concentric
cells ; those of the outer circle, or periphery, about as long as broad,
placed tier above tier in regular circles, so that the frond appears as if trans!
versely striate or handed. The ceUs sometimes separate into four smaller
cells, which occupy the space of one large ceU. Spores ? scattered, one or
more in each transverse band, each spore formed from a cell of the band,
become enlarged and prominent. Colour, when young, a clear olive be!
coming brown in age. Substance soft, adhering to paper. ’
This poor little plant has been sadly tossed about among botanists
from one part of the system to the other, nor is it yet very
certain whether it will be allowed to bear the name under which
it is now described, or whether that must be changed into
Besmofrichim. Should it be found, on comparison, to agree in