Ilote. CCLX.
P l a t e CCLX.
ELACHISTEA FLACCIDA, Aresch.
G e n . Ch a r . Frond parasitical, consisting of a dense tuft of free, simple,
articulated, olivaceous filaments, rising from a common tubercular
base, composed of vertical, branching fibres, closely combined into a
cartilaginous mass. Fructification, pear-shaped spores attached to
the bases of the filaments concealed in the tubercles, and frequently accompanied
by paranemata. B l a o h i s t e a [Fries), — from ikaxuTTa,
the le a s t; from the small size of these plants.
B l a o h i s t e a flaecida ; tufts pencilled : filaments elongate, flaccid, membranaceous,
much attenuated to the base ; the lower articulations half
as long as broad, the upper of equal length and breadth; tubercle
hemispherical.
E l a c h i s t e a flaecida, Aresch.—J. Ag. Gen. et Sp. Alg. vol. i, p. 12. Harv.
Man. ed. 2. p. 50. Fr. FI. Scan. p. 317. Eng. Bot. t. 2912.
E l a c h i s t e a breviarticulata, Aresch. in Linn. vol. xvi. p. 2 3 4 . t. 8. f. 5.
P h y c o p h i l a flaecida, Kiitz. Phyc. Gen. p. 330.
M y r io k e m a b r e v i a r t i c u l a tu m , Endl. Zrd Suppl. p . 2 3 .
C o n f e r v a flaecida, Dillw. t. G. Harv. in Hook. Br. PI. vol. ii. p. 355. Harv.
in Mack. PI. Hib. part 3. p. 227. Harv. Man. ed. 1. p. 132. Wyatt, Ala.
Damn. no. 292.
C o n f e r v a o b tu s a , Ag. Syst. p . 1 0 1 .
C o n f e r v a b r e v i a r t i c u l a ta , Suhr, in Plora 1 8 3 1 , p . 3 2 . t . 4 . f. 3 6 , x ,y , z.
H ab . Parasitical on Cystoseira fibrosa, common. Annual. Summer and
autumn.
G e o g r . D i s t r . Atlantic coasts of France and England.
D e s o r . Tubercle small, one to three lines in diameter, hemispherical, very firm,
composed of moniliform, dichotomous fibres densely compacted together, and
not easily separable. From the tips of the fibres composing the tubercle
spring the filaments, which are half an inch long, or something more,
tapering extremely at the base, then rapidly widening to the middle, from
which they taper very gradually to the upper extremity. Articulatimis in
the lower and middle parts of the filament not quite half as long as broad
in the upper part as long as, or rather longer than, their breadth ; the apex
obtuse. Between the filaments spring numerous linear clavate paranemata,
tapering to the base, and gradually swelHng upwards ; these have oval arti!
culations, about thrice as long as broad. Spores lodged among the parane-
meta, obovate, on slender, short pedicels, dark olive. Substance fiaccid
and soft, readily adhering to paper in drying. Colour a pale greenish olive,
sometimes yeUowish or foxy.