C O N F E R V A fcetida*
■ Foetid Pale Conferva.
CRYPTOGAMIA Algæ.
G en- C h a r . Seeds produced within the substance of
the capillary or jointed fronds or in closed tubercles
united with it*
S p e c . C h a r . Pale olive* Filaments clustered longitudinally,
branched* separating at the extremities;
internally beaded and granulated.
S y n . Conferva fcetida. Dillw. Conf. t. 1 0 4 . Syn. n. 114.
V illars Dauph. v. 3. 1 0 1 0 . t. 5 6 ?
Ulva fcetida. Voucher Conf. 2 8 5 * t. 11. f 3.
W E are obliged to our friend Mr. W. J . Hooker for fresh
specimens of this plant, discovered by himself in April 1808,
growing On decayed Conferees, of other species, in the salt
iharshes at Cley, Norfolk. He also pointed out to us the
synonym of Vaucher, to which Mr. Dillwyn, who met with
the same on the coast of Glamorganshire, assents. We think
it most probable that Villars^s plant is the same, his figures,
in the cryptogamia especially, being never very expressive*
Many flaccid slippery filaments, springing from one root,
adhere laterally together, separating and branching off here
and there in an irregular manner, and terminating acutely*
When these aggregate stems or branches are examined microscopically,
longitudinal rows of beaded filaments are discernible,
which also run laterally into each other. The whole
is of a light olive brown, or greenish, and very foetid, like
some half corrupted marine animals, or like the fresh-w-ater
sponge.