[ 1838 ]
CONFERVA interrupta.
Interrupted P urp lish Conferva.
CRYPTOGAMIA Algae.
Gen. Char. Seeds produced within the substance of
the capillary or jointed frond, or in closed tubercles
united with it.
Spec. Char. Purplish, much branched, forked, capillary.
Joints four times as long as broad, slightly
swelling upwards. Capsules on short lateral stalks,
elliptical, with a transverse separation.
W e have found no description in authors of this curious
little Conferva, which was discovered by Mr. W. Borrer on
the Brighthelmston coast in July last.
The fronds are of a dull brownish rose-colour, about an inch
high, very much branched in a clustered 6r proliferous manner 5
the joints about four times as long as broad, dilated upwards
and obtuse. The capsules grow on short, lateral, solitary
stalks, at the summits of the joints on the outer side, and are
elliptical, very peculiar for being, when ripe, distinctly divided
by a transverse partition into two cells or masses pf dark-red
seeds.
In many points this plant resembles C. pedicellata, t. 1817,
but is scarcely one third so large, nor are its joints so long,
nor the summits of the branches so taper, not to mention its
divided fruit.