CONFERVA aegagropila.
Globe Conferva, or Moor B a lls .
CRYPTOGAMIA Algce.
Gen. Char. Seeds produced in round, solitary, closed
tubercles, projecting from the frond, but united
with it.
Spec. Char. Green. Stems jointed, repeatedly branched,
clustered into a globe and divaricating from the
centre.
S y n . Conferva tegagropila. Linn. Sp. PL 1 6 3 7 .
Huds. 6 0 4 . With. v. 4. 142. Hull. 335.
SPECIMENS of this singular production have been sent us
from North Wales by the Rev. Mr. Davies, and from a large
pool in Shropshire called Culmere, and another named White-
mere, by the Rev. Mr. Williams. They are the growth of
alpine lakes in many different countries, and lie in great
abundance at the bottom of the water. Their si/e is from
that of a pea to 3 or 4 inches in diameter, and their form
always pretty exactly sphserical. Internally they are hollow,
and quite destitute of any nucleus. When separated they are
found to consist of innumerable green pellucid jointed filaments,
repeatedly branched, and firmly entangled together.
The joints contain a green fluid substance, which by dryino-
settles in an opaque form at their extremities, as in others of
this genus. No traces of real fructification have been observed,
though the extreme points of the filaments have an appearance
which might be mistaken for such. It should seem that
several of these filaments spring from one centre, perhaps
fixed to some earthy particle, which, like the Dodder, they
soon leave, and their lower parts wither away, while by
branching and extending themselves upwards they form a
gradually enlarging globe.
Mr. Williams informs us of these balls being used to wipe
pens upon. The specific name alludes to their resembling
the hairy balls found in the stomachs of goats. Sir William
Watson has given the first English account of this plant in
the 47th vol. of the Philosophical Transactions.