2899.
TYNDARIDEA anomala.
Anomalous Tyndaridea.
CRYPTOGAMIA Alga.
Gen. Char. Filaments simple, articulate, with internal
cells ; at length coupling by transverse
processes. Endochrome of two stellate masses
in each cell; that of the united cells mixing in
conjugation and forming a globose spore.
Spec. Char. Filaments enclosed in firm, waved,
hyaline sheaths. Endochrome at first filling the
subquadrate joints, afterwards bipartite. Spores
occupying the inflated joints.
I t forms large, dark-green masses in shallow pools on
heaths. The filaments are stout: under the microscope each
is found to be enclosed in a hyaline sheath, which extends on
each side about half the breadth of the coloured portion, and
i s always more or less waved or scolloped. At first it is nearly
even, but it gradually becomes more and more irregular, and
the conjugating specimens are almost denuded. The joints
of the filament are usually about equal in length and breadth,
but sometimes twice as long as broad. The endochrome is
blackish-green, and at first quadrate, when it completely fills
the joint; but its division into two portions gradually becomes
apparent, until two stellae, but less distinct than those in the
other species, are at last developed, when conjugation takes
place in the usual manner. The spores, which are globular,
are contained in the joints of one of the connected filaments.
Not unfrequently the tubular processes are themselves converted
into cells containing endochrome.