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C O N F E R V A inflata.
Tumid-join tccl Conferva.
CRYPTOGAMIA Algae.
Gen. Char. Seeds produced in round, solitary, closed
tubercles, projecting from the frond, but united
with it.
Spec. Char. Green. Filaments unbranched. Joints
three times as long as broad; when fertile swelling
and elliptical.
Syn. Conjugata inflata. Faucher Conf. 68. t. 5 . f 3 .
F o u n d by Mr. W. Borrer in fresh water at Henfield,
Sussex, in March last.
The filaments are but the 700th part of an inch in diameter,
simple, jointed, pellucid and almost colourless, consisting at
first of exactly cylindrical joints about thrice as long as they
are broad, marked (according to M. Vaucher’s observations
in all this tribe) with green colouring matter in spiral lines.
The same acute investigator has seen the joints afterwards
swell, becoming elliptical, and each protruding a lateral tube
so as to unite with similar tubes of a neighbouring plant.
The colouring matter of one joint passes into the other, its
spiral appearance being entirely lost. At length each joint
which has received it swells still more, growing quite elliptical,
and filled with a solid green body, which-M. Vaucher has
proved to be a single seed, producing in due time a solitary
young plant. Our specimens are in the state of ripening
seed, and many of their joints are barren. We have little
doubt of its being the very same species with his. At any rate
they are nearly allied, and the subject is so curious that we are
glad to give even an imperfect view of it, in order to excite
the curiosity of those who have leisure for microscopical inquiries.
They will be amply rewarded by perceiving how
great is the Creator in these his least works.
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