2926.
LYNGBYA speciosa.
Beautiful Lynghya.
CRYPTOGAMIA Alga.
Gen. Char. Filaments destitute of a mucous matrix,
flexible, elongated, continuous, decumbent, not
oscillating. Endochrome finally separating into
lenticular spores.
Spec. Char. Filaments long, thick, flaccid, straight,
at length curled, the margin crenate, freely floating
in the water and forming extensive bright
green strata, glossy when dry.—Harv.
Syn. Lynghya speciosa. Harv. in Hook. Brit. FI.
v. 2. pt. 1. 371. Wyatt Alg. Damn. no. 196.
Harv. Man. 161.
O n marine rocks and Fuci. Appin, Capt. Carmichael;
Devonshire, Mrs, Griffiths; Cornwall, Mr. Ralfs.
Resembling L. Carmichaelii in habit, but of a brighter green,
shining when dry, and more curled, with filaments twice as
thick and the interstices of the endochromes much constricted,
so as to give the threads a crenated appearance: the outer
tube is however straight and in general not so thick. Endochromes
as in L. Carmichaelii varying according to age; presenting
however considerable difference as to length in mature
threads; very dark when perfect, so that when a portion only
is mature the threads are curiously variegated; at length free
and often lying over one another in an imbricated manner.
The broader joints, which are of a pale green, give birth, I believe,
to two fertile endochromes. I am not able however to
assert that this is always the case. The threads vary considerably
in thickness.—M. J. B.