(or [ 1762 ]
C O N F E R V A Biddulphiana.
Disjointed Marine Conferva.
CRYPTOGAMIA Algce.
G en. Char. Seeds produced within the substance of
the capillary or jointed frond, or in closed tubercles
united with it.
Spec. Char. Pale green. Filaments capillary, simple,
somewhat compressed. Joints quadrangular, longitudinally
striated; at length separating at one of
their edges and divaricated.
T h i s curious plant, of which we can find no description,
was found by Miss Susanna Biddulph in November and December
last at Southampton, entangled with every marine
production of the season. It serves to illustrate and confirm
the nature of the C.Jtocculosa in our last plate. Its filaments
are about half an inch long, nearly 3 times as thick as those
of the last mentioned, and less compressed. The joints do not
separate quite so regularly in an alternate manner, and moreover
differ remarkably in being crenate where they join, as
well as striated or furrowed longitudinally, not transversely;
while their central line is transverse, bearing an apparent mass
of reddish seeds. Our plate contains exact copies of chosen
specimens, which will explain, better than can be done in
words, the nature of so extraordinary a production.