CONFERVA Daviesii.
Daviesian Conferva.
CRYPTOGAMIA Algae.
G e n . C h a r . Seeds produced within the substance of
the capillary or jointed frond, or in closed tubercles
united with it.
S p e c . C h a r . Crimson, much bran ch ed : branches
scattered, taper-pointed. Joints even, thrice as
long as broad. Capsules lateral, ascending, clustered,
obovate.
S y n . Conferva Daviesii. Diilw. Syn. 7 3 . n. 122. t. F.
N a m e d by Mr. Dillwyn in honour of our mutual friend the
Rev. Hugh Davies, who found this elegant little species on the
Welch coast. Miss Hutchins has collected it in Ireland, and
Mr. W . Borrer at Brighthelmston. The latter only has found
the fruit, with which he favoured us last July.
C. Daviesii grows in tufts, about a quarter of an inch high,
on the larger sea-weeds, and its crimson colour often renders it
very conspicuous on such as are of a less gaudy hue. The
fronds are very much branched in an irregular manner; their
ultimate subdivisions tipped with exquisitely fine colourless
points. Their joints are even, thrice as long as broad. The
fructification is copiously arranged along the upper side of the
branches, in nearly sessile groups of two or three small, obovate
capsules, all directed upward, each capsule containing a mass
of crimson seeds. In some there appears a division, as in our
C. interrupta, t. 1838; near to which species, and pedicellata,
t. 1817, the present ought to be arranged.