CONFERVA CONFERVICOLA, 



C. filamentis fimplicibus minutis, lub confertis acutis ; difTepimentis ob- 



fcuris, articulis cylindricis longitudine inequalibus. 

 C. marina parafitica, tenuiflima & breviflima glauca. Dill Mufc. p. 552, t. 85, f.21. 

 In the Sea, adhering to Fuci & Confervse. 



THIS delicate parafite is by no means unfrequently found, in the lateft months of 

 autumn, on Fucus purpurafcens, fubfufcus, Conferva elongata, rupeftris, and other 

 Confervse; attaching itfelf principally to the ends of the branches, and often entirely- 

 covering them. It may be readily diftinguifhed by its very fhort fimple (lender 

 filaments, rarely exceeding one-eighth of an inch in length, and their dark 

 glaucous colour. As well as in fome other of the fmaller unbranched fpecies of 

 this genus, the diffepiments are not placed in any regular order, but at various 

 diftances from each other'; and among them fafciae frequently appear, nearly fimilar 

 to thofe defcribed under the laft fpecies. 



There can be no doubt of this being really the plant defigned by Dillenius, in 

 the place above quoted, and called by him « Conferva upon Conferva,' though Dr. 

 Roth, in the firft volume of his Catalefta, has referred that fynonym to his C. 

 mucor, which feems to be a different plant; and if we may judge from his ac- 

 count of it, may probably be fome not uncommon parafitic fpecies in decay. 



A. C. confervicola natural fize, growing on Fucus purpurafcens. 



B. Ditto, on C. rupeftris, magnified 3. 



C. Small piece ditto, r. 



