Ser. GONGYLOSPERME.E. (195) Fam. CERAMIACE.E. 



CALLITHAMNION FLORIDULUM.— ^r/. 



Gex. CnAR. — Fronds filiform and articulated, sometimes at lengtli in the older parts 

 cellular and partially opaque, single-tubed ; divisions mostly pinnate, dissepiments 

 hyaline. Fructification of two kinds, on distinct plants : 1, Favellse, mostly 

 lateral on the branches, and filled with minute spores ; 2. Tetraspores, external, 

 tripartite or cruciate. Name from Ka\hs, " beautiful," and ddfivos, "a shrub." 



Callithamnion floridulum. — Fronds forming densely pulvinate sub- 

 globose tufts, erect, sparingly divided in a subalternate or dichotomous 

 manner ; all the divisions long, erect, without lateral ramuli ; arti- 

 culations cylindrical, about three times as long as broad ; tetraspores 

 elliptical, lateral on short pedicels. 



Callithamnion floridulum. — Ag. Sp. Alg. vol. ii. p. 188; Harv. in Hooh. Br.Fl. 

 vol. ii. p. 348; Wyatt, Alg. Damn. No. 219; Kiltz. Phyc. Gen. p. 371 ; 

 Harv. P. B. plate 120 a. ; Harv. Man. p. 183 ; Harv. Syn. p. 156; 

 Atlas, plate 59, fig. 277 ; /. G. Agardh, Sp. Gen. Alg. vol. ii. p. 19. 



Trentepohlia floridula. — Harv. in Mach. Fl. Hib. part 3, p. 218. 



Conferva floridula. — Dillw. Conf. Suppl. t. F. 



Hab. — On sand-covered rocks, near low-water mark. Perennial ? Galway coast, 

 abundant ; Clare, Kerry, and east coasts of Ireland ; Antrim (Dr. Scott) ; Orkney [Rev. 

 H. Pollexfen) ; Peterhead {Mr. T. Bell) ; Lands' End {Mr. Ralfs). 



Geogr. Dist. — Coast of Prance. 



Descriptiox. — Fronds densely tufted, forming more or less globose 

 masses of from half an inch to an inch in diameter, sparingly and 

 distantly branched ; branches subdichotomous, alternate or secund, long 

 and cylindrical, without lateral ramuli, and more or less corymbose at 

 the summit. Articulations nearly equal throughout, about two and a-half 

 or three times as long as broad, cylindrical, the branches all very erect, 

 with rounded obtuse apices and very acute axils. Favellse appear to 

 be unknown. Tetraspores are not unfrequent, unilateral on short 

 pedicels on the upper branches. Substance membranous, rather firm, 

 and rather imperfectly adhering to paper. Colour, a rather dull pinky 

 red, " the bases often fading to a dull green." 



This veiy pretty little species seems very local in its geographical 

 range in this country, being mostly confined to the west of Ireland, 

 where it is said to be abundant at least in one or two places, but 

 only occasionally met with on other parts of our shores. 



