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CRYPTOGAMIA Algce.
Gen. Char. Seeds produced within the substance of
the capillary or jointed frond, or in closed tubercles
united with it.
Spec. Char. Purplish brown. Filaments very much
branched, with elongated taper points, diffuse,
cartilaginous, reticulated with veins. Joints
much broader than long, compound, with four
cential tubes. Capsules lateral, ovate, sessile.
Svn. Conferva elongata. Huds. 599. With. v. 4.
137. H ull. 3 3 3 . Dillw. Spn. 80. C o n f.t. 33.
COMMON on the sea shores of Britain, and the largest of
its genus, though not the longest, found here, or probably any
where else. Mr. Borrer sent it with capsules in October. Mr.
Dillwyn says this is often called the Lobster-horn Conferva,
in allusion, as it seems, to the tapering and jointed aspect of
the branches.
The bushy spreading fronds, originating from a small callous
base, are usually about a foot high, of a clear purplish
brown, very closely jointed, flexible but elastic ; minutely reticulated
externally with many veins; internally composed of
four parallel, central, interrupted tubes, in the youngest
branches as well as oldest stems. Capsules among the upper
ramifications, sessile, lateral, solitary, ovate, striated, of the
colour of the branches.