FZate- C C J jF l .
P l a t e CCLVI.
MONORMIA INTRICATA, Berk.
G e n . C h a r . Frond gelatinous, branched; the branches containing a spiral
moniliform filament, composed of spherical, coloured cells, interrupted
here and there by a ceU of a different kind, and of larger size. Spores
formed from the ordinary cells. M o n o e m i a {Berk.),—from govos, one,
and oppos, a :
M o n o r m ia i
M o n o r m ia intricata. Berk. Gl. Brit. Alg. p. 46. 1 .18. Harv. Man. ed. 1.
p. 185, Hass. Brit. Fresh Water Algce, p. 385. pi. 75. f. 11.
H a b . At Gravesend, in the ditches of the marsh to the south of the
Frindsbnry canal, in great abundance, in June, 1832, Eev. M. J.
Berkeley. Ditch (brackish) near Lighthouse, Shirehampton, Bristol,
Mr. G. I I. K . Thwaites.
G b o g r . D i s t b . Not noticed out of England ?
D e s c b . “ Forming small, roundish, gelatinous masses floating amongst different
species of Lemna in fresh water, hut probably within the influence of the
tid e ; and also amongst Fnteromorpha intestinalis, and even within its frond,
in brackish water. The plant is at first of an olive yellow, gradually assuming
a greener tint, and when dried, of a deep verdigris. Very gelatinous,
delicately branched; the branches very fiaccid. Under a high magnifier
the whole plant is evidently composed of gelatine, in the centre of
which runs a single moniliform filament following the ramifications, and in
its progress curling to and fro repeatedly across the thread; the Joints
being nearly globular. The specimens from the interior of Fnteromorpha
intestinalis are paler, and have often longer Joints amongst the globular
ones.”—Berk. In young specimens the moniliform thread is found composed
of a string of spherical, olive-green ceUs, of equal size, here and there
interrupted hy a larger, subquadrate cell, much paler than the rest. As it
advances in age the cells, nearest the quadrate cell enlarge, become ellipsoid,
and filled with a dense endochrome; in fact, converted into spores. The
process of change into spores goes on at each side of the quadrate cell
(which remains unchanged), until the whole of the filament is turned into
a string of spores. If these simply organized plants have sexes, the functions
of the male probably reside in these quadrate cells.
This curious plant has but a slender claim for admission into
this work, being commonly a fresh-water production; but the
specimens here figured having been obtained from the same saltwater
ditches which have already supplied us—through the kindness
of Mr. Thwaites,—with several interesting subjects, I have
thought that there could be no objection to giving a figure of a
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