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MOPSEA. 



A tree-formed Polypidom, with pinnated branches ; 

 rind thin, adherent, covered with very small papillae, 

 (mamelonSy) which are elongated, curved towards the 

 stem, dispersed, or subverticillated. 



The articulations of the axe are alternately horny 

 and stony ; the first, of a deep brown colour, are very 

 thick in the stems, sometimes even more so than 

 the second : this thickness diminishes in the branches, 

 and in the twigs it becomes invisible to the naked eye, 

 being only rendered perceptible by friction* The 

 stony articulations are of a fawn colour, or a dull 

 white, in general thicker and always larger than the 

 first, and of suflicient hardness to receive a fine 

 polish : their surface is finely striated, and the striae, 

 which are parallel and longitudinal, sometimes extend 

 to the horny articulations. 



The rind, thin and adherent, appears devoid of po- 

 lypi in the stem and principal branches ; but the mi- 

 nor branches and their divisions are covered with 

 polypous papillae, which are dispersed or almost verti- 

 cillated, elongated, straight at their commencement, 

 with the extremity recurved interiorly ; their sub- 

 stance is the same as that of the rind ; the form of these 

 papillous protuberances, as well as of the branches, 

 which sometimes divide themselves in pairs, some- 

 times in side twigs, or else are pinnated, gives these 

 Polypidoms some resemblance to the verticillated 

 Gorgonia and its connexions. 



Their colour is a brilliant fawn, sometimes a red 

 purple, or scarlet. 



