CONFERVA LACTEA. 



C. fibmentis ramofiiTimis, gelatinofis, lubricis ; ramis virgatis alternis c 

 quovis diflepimento ; diflcpimentis contraftis ; articulis longiffimis, 

 hyalinis. 



C. lacfea. Roth. Cat. Bot. I. p. 216. III. p. 292. 



C. pufilla. Fl. Germ. III. pars. 1. p. 524. 



In Ditches and Rivulets, growing on Stones, Wood, decaying vegetables, &c. 



I HAVE found the prefent fpecies in feveral places in Walthamftow and its 

 neighbourhood, as alfo about Swanfea, and I am inclined to think it is by no 

 means unfrequent during the winter months. It grows on various fubftances at 

 the bottom of ditches and rivulets, in gelatinous flippery maffes, of a dirty white 

 color, and varying from half an inch to three or four inches in length. The 

 filaments are regularly branched at each difTepiment ; the branches are alternate 

 and fo cluftered as to give them a brufh-like appearance. The diflepiments are 

 of a dulky color, and divide the filaments into joints, whofe length is various 

 but never lefs than at leaft ten times their thicknefs, and they are flightly con- 

 tracted and rounded at each end. Under the microfcope they appear perfectly 

 colorlefs, and this and their remarkable tranfparency will readily diftinguifh C. 

 lattea from every other fpecies with which I am acquainted. No fructification 

 has been difcovered. 



In drying it adheres firmly to both Glafs and Paper. 



A. C. laftea, natural fize. 



B. Ditto, magnified 1. 



II 



