CONFERVA PLUMULA. 



C. filamentis ramofiflimis ; ramis alternis pinnatis ; pinnis oppoluis ; 

 ramulis ultimis secundis ; articulis longiusculis; capfulis brevius pe- 

 dicillatis. 



C. plumula. Ellis in Phil. Trans. LVII. p. 426. 



In the fea, adhering to Confervas. At Brighton, Ellis. In Cafwell Bay near 

 Swanfea, during the fummer months. 



ELLIS gave an excellent drawing of this beautiful fpecies to the Royal Society, 

 in the year 1768, which was publifhed by them in the 57th Volume of their 

 Tranfactions ; but fince that time no Botanift appears to have noticed it, and it 

 remained a defideratum till I met with it on the beach at Swanfea, in Auguft. 

 1802. 



The plant is of a light red colour, and from the finenefs of its filaments, has, 

 when lying on the fhore, the appearance of an Ulva in decay. The root I have 

 not been able to obferve, but we may fairly conclude, from analogy, that it it j 

 minute callus. The whole frond is pellucid, with dark diflepiments: the branches 

 are pinnate, with oppofite pinnse bearing fmaller branches, arranged on one fide 

 only : the length of the joints varies very confiderably, and is not unfrequently 

 twice as great as in the annexed drawing. The capfules arc very numerous, 

 placed on fhort fruit ftalks, arranged like the ultimate branches on which they 

 grow ; and, as in all other fpecies allied to this, difcharging their feeds by an 

 orifice at the top. At C, I have given a fketch of four cluftered together, 

 which may occafionally be feen, but appears to be a lufus naturae. 



