CONFERVA AUREA. 



C. filamentis ramofis aureis minutis ; ramis longis patentibus rigidiuf- 



culis fub incurvis ; diffepimentis pellucidis ; articulis longiufculis. 



Byffus aurea. Sp. Plant, p. ,638. Fl. Ang. p. 606. Fl. Scot. p. 1002. With. IV. 

 p. 144. Eng. Bot. t. 212. 



Byffus petrsea crocea glomcrulis lanuginofis. Dill. Mufc. p. 8. t. 1. f. 16. 

 Byffus aureus Derbienfis humifufus. Raii Syn. p. 56. 



In moift places, generally in a lime-Rone foil, frequently growing on Mufci : 

 not very common. 



WHATEVER claim the plants generally known by die name of Byffi have to 

 be confidered a feparate genus, the prefent fpecies cannot juftly be ranked among 

 them. Byffi are defined by Linnxus and fubfequent botanifts as confifting of 

 fimple down or powder. Dr. Roth confiders them as folid fubltances with the 

 feeds fcattered on the outfide, but this plant fo little correfponds with either, and 

 has fo ftrikingly the itrufture of a Conferva, that I am furprized it has not been 

 already referred to that tribe, inftead of being carried, as it has been by Dr. 

 Acharius, to the Lichens, with which it has little affinity. 



C. aurea occurs, though but rarely, in damp fituations on calcareous rocks, and 

 in chalk pits, frequently forming irregular cufhion-like tufts on fome of the 

 mufci ; and when it grows in large patches, bears a finking refemblance, as 

 Dr. Smith obferves, to a piece of orange-coloured cloth or velvet, and is a very 

 confpicuous and beautiful object. Even without the aid of a microfcope, the 

 filaments may be feen to be much branched ; the branches are long, difpofed 

 without any regular order, patent, moflly fomewhat incurved, and divided into 



