GL^OPRIUM. 347 



Wormley West End, Herts : A. H. H. Banclon : Prof. 

 G. J. Allman. Co. Kerry : Mr. Andrews. 



The filaments when viewed separately, or as regards the 

 line of cells are rather slender, but when taken in connec- 

 tion with the broad sheaths, their diameter is considerable; 

 this sheath, though expanded and firm, often, unless a good 

 microscope be used, escapes detection. It is from the pre- 

 sence of this sheath that the plant owes its excessive muco- 

 sity, and it is by it that we account for the parallel arrange- 

 ment which the filaments frequently assume on the field of 

 the microscope, without at the same time appearing to touch 

 each other, although they really do so by means of the almost 

 invisible mucous sheath. The contrast between the coloured 

 cells and the transparent sheath renders this an exceedingly 

 beautiful microscopic object. 



2. Gl^oprium mucosum Berk. 



Plate LXXXIII. Figs. 6, Q. ^ 



Char. Filaments not fragile. Cells usually nearly as long 

 as hroad, not grooved round tlie centre. Angles of cells 

 mostly minutely hicrenate. Sheath very broad, faint. 



Conf. mucosa Mertens, Dillw. Syn. t. ^; Harvey, in 

 Hook. Br. Fl. p. 351, ; also in Manual, p. 127. GIcbo- 

 prium mucosum Jenner, in Flora of Tunbridge Wells. 

 Desmidium bimucronatum Hassall, MSS. 



Hab. In stagnant water, Bantry : Miss Hutchins. Appin ; 

 Captain Carmicliael. Cheshunt Common, High Beech 

 and elsewhere : A. H. H. Penzance : Mr. Ralfs. Bogs 

 at Fisher's Castle, very abundant, Sept. 1844 ; Chilting- 

 ton Common : Mr. Jenner. 



This species differs very considerably from the previous one, 

 in having somewhat longer cells, a more highly developed 

 mucous sheath, in the absence of the central constriction of 

 the cells, and in the presence of the excessively minute bicrenate 

 processes placed at the angles of the cells, and which were 



