CONFERVA MIRABILIS. 



C. filamentis fpurie-ramofis, cylindricis, ccEruleo-virefcentibus ; ramis c 

 coadunitis genuflexuris filamentorum ; articulis breviflimis. 



On Stones, and the Stems of Hypnum rufcifolium in the Stream which runs 

 through the Wood at Penllergare, near Swanfea. 



THOSE Species to which Vaucher has given the generic name of Ofcillatoria, 

 and which he has placed among the Tremellae, are arranged as Confervae by Dr. 

 Roth, and form the divifion ' fporangium annulis' in the Catalecla Botanica. 

 To this divifion the prefent plant belongs, but it does not appear to have been 

 heretofore defcribed, and it differs fo fingularly from all its congeners as to 

 induce me to give it the fpecific name of mirabilis. I discovered it intermixed 

 with C. decorticans in the above-mentioned dream, and alfo attached to the 

 ftems of Hypnum rufcifolium, but in fuch fmall quantity that although I have 

 repeatedly fearched for it, I have not been able to obtain more than five or fix 

 fpecimens. 



C. mirabilis grows in fmall thickly entangled patches, of which the diameter 

 in the largeft of my fpecimens does not exceed half an inch. The color and 

 fize of the filaments, and the fize and nature of the joints entirely resemble thofe 

 of C. diftorta •, and it is only by their different modes of growth, or with a glafs 

 of fufficient power to difcover the fingular connection of its filaments, that it 

 can be readily diftinguifhed from this fpecies. The manner in which the 

 filaments anaflomoze is not fimilar to that of jugalis, and the other fpecies of 

 Vaucher's genus conjugata, as there is no appearance of the connecting tubes, fo 

 finking and Angular in thofe fpecies. It is remarkable for having altogether the 

 look of a branched plant, though at the fame time it is in reality completely fimple, 

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