CONFERVA RUBIGINOSA. 



C. filamentis ramofiffimis rigidis ereftiufculis, ramis floruofis patentibus 

 in maflam fub-folidam rubiginofam implexis-articulis longis. 



On Rotten Wood. 



FOR the prefent fpecies I have in vain fought through the Genus Byflus in 

 moft of thofe authors who have defcribed that branch of Cryptogamia in which 

 I conceive it moft probable that it would from its nature have been arranged. 

 I therefore conclude that it has hitherto efcaped notice, and I have decided on 

 giving it a place in this work from not being able to find any character which 

 can diftinguifh it from the Confervx. Indeed it appears to me, as far as my 

 obfervations have hitherto gone, that the fame may be faid of all the Byffi 

 filamentofae. 



C. rubiginofa grows on decayed wood in places where the light is nearly 

 excluded, and forms irregular patches moftly about an eighth of an inch in thick- 

 nefs, and of a rufty brown color entirely deftitute of glofs. The primary fila- 

 ments I have little doubt are repent, but fo mixed with the mould arifing from 

 the decayed wood on which they grow, and afterwards fo denfely matted and 

 entangled together that it is impoflible to feparate without tearing them, or to 

 afcertain the nature of the ramification of the plant except towards the fummits. 

 On examining a fedion of the mafs it appears that from the creeping filaments 

 rife upright ones which grow twifted together, and throwing out in every direc- 

 tion and without any regular order, patent flexuofe branches, every where of 

 equal thicknefs, which are again entangled and matted fo as to form nearly a 

 folid fubftance. Under the higheft powers of the microfcope, diflepiments are 



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