1355.] 4 



id 



T close the list of Rhodosperms with some remarks on an interesting plant, for 

 which, as yet, I have no name. I obtained upwards of twenty specimens of this 

 Alga during July and August. They were cast ashore near the inlet of Great 

 Egg Harbor Bay, parasitical on TJlva latissima, Zoster a marina, and Gracilaria 

 multipartita, associated with Chylocladia Baileyana. I sought diligently for fertile 

 specimens, but without success. 



This plant, in the articulations of the frond, shows a tendency towards Grif- 

 fithsia setacea, from which, however, it differs greatly in some of its other 

 characters. 



The branching of G. setacea is on the dichotomous model, and the axils are 

 acute, whilst in this plant the branching is irregular, showing a tendency to 

 secund ramification, and the axils are obtuse, particularly in the ramuli, where 

 they are found to be almost horizontally patent, which is sufficient to distinguish 

 it from G. setacea. 



Perhaps one of the most remarkable characters of this Alga is that the ramuli 

 generally issue from the middle of the internodes, which, according to Harvey, 

 would exclude it even from the Order Ceramiacece, to which ihe genus Griffithsia 

 belongs. 



Under the natural character of the Order Ceramiacece, Harvey remarks as fol- 

 lows : "In the simpler species, the frond consists of an articulated filament, 

 formed of a number of cylindrical cells or articulations, placed end to end. This 

 filament is either dichotomously or pinnately branched, the branches being similar 

 to the main stem, and always springing from the upper part of each internode (or 

 articulation) either from its shoulder, or from a short distance below that point. 1 ' 

 See Nereis Boreali- Americana, page 206. 



These different characters have been made available by Algologists for the 

 purpose of classification, and if they are to be regarded as of primary conse- 

 quence, this plant is certainly new to our coast, if not to science. 



The following are some of its principal characters, which may serve to dis- 

 tinguish it, until fertile specimens shall be obtained. Frond terete; tubular; 

 monosiphonous ; rosy-red ; two to four inches long ; not much thicker than a 

 human hair; soft but not gelatinous ; does not readily decompose in fresh water, 

 nor adhere strongly to paper in drying. Conspicuously articulated throughout ; 

 the lower articulations many times longer than their diameter; internodes more 

 or less swollen ; nodes consist of narrow pellucid bands, on either side of which 

 is a ring of deep crimson, gradually fading towards the central region of the 

 internode. 



The branching irregular ; sometimes showing a tendency to secund ramifica- 

 tion ; branchlets beset at unequal intervals with secund, spindle-shaped ramuli, 

 half a lioe to four or five lines in length, frequently horizontally patent, generally 

 issuing from the middle of the internodes, and sometimes much attenuated at the 

 point of insertion. 



Apices furnished with several whorls of exceedingly minute dichotomous hairs, 

 oaly visible under the microscope. 



Series III. CHLOROSPERME.E. 



Bryopsis plumosa, Ag. Not common ; attached to old shells and other sub- 

 merged substances on the shore of Great Egg Harbor Bay. 



Cladophora palcata, Harv. Occurs plentiful in Little Bay. 



Enteromorpiia compressa, Grev. Very common everywhere ; infesting the 

 small pebbles on Great Egg Harbor Bay. 



Enteromorpiia intestinalis, Link. Abundant in Little Bay, and on Bond's 

 Bar. Frequently found floating in large quantities in the Bays. 



TJlva latissima, Linn. Common with the above. 



Porphyra vulgaris, Ag. Very rare. I have obtained but two or three speci- 

 meas of this Alga, on Zostera marina in Little Bay. 



