CONFERVA ATRO-RUBESCENS. 



C. filamentis ramofis ftriatis, ramis eiongatis fub-alternis,ramufis brevibus 

 fubulatis fafciculatis ; capfulis ovatis pedunculatis. 



In the Sea, adhering to Rocks, Stones and Shells. 



THE prefent fpecies appears to be far from uncommon on any of our fhores, 

 and is occalionally found in large quantities in the bafins left by the tide. The 

 length extends from four to fix or even nine inches , the color varies from a 

 light purple to a duiky red, and becomes black with age, or by expofure to the 

 air, as well as by drying ; the root is a minute callus ; the ftem folitary, of the 

 thicknefs of imall thread, repeated. y branched ; the branches long, for the mod 

 part alternate, and irregularly befct with awl-fhaped ramuli one or two lines in 

 length, feveral of which are difpofed near each other fo as to give them a fafci- 

 culated appearance. The whole fiiament under the microfcope is ftriated in a 

 beautiful manner by longitudinal veins, which arch over at or near the difTepi- 

 ments, and at firft fight appear to form them ; thefe veins are always in fome 

 degree fpiral : the joints in the principal branches are in length frequently more 

 than double their thicknefs, but in the ramuli the length and thicknefs are about 

 equal ; the capfules are ovate, and either lateral, on fhort fruit ftalks, or terminal 

 at the end of the fmaller branches ; other globular fubftances, imbedded in the 

 joints, are alfo obfervable bearing a {hiking refemblance to the fuppofed fruit 

 which conftitutes the variety /3 of Fucus coccineus, mentioned in the Synopfis of 

 Britifh Fuci, and which, in my opinion, is occafioned by a collapfion of the 

 juices.* 



» I may take this opportunity to obferve, that I have found the glohular capfules and this fuppofed 

 fructification on the fame Frond of Fucus Coccineus. 



10 



