178 FRESHWATER WEEDS. 



same weed was floating freely, its long green branches 

 twisted like hair, and attaining a length of nearly half a 

 yard. This was the River Conferva. It grew in com- 

 pany with the Common Chara, the Water Thyme, and 

 the Greater Water moss. The dingy Conferva (C. sordida) 

 is equally common. It is of a dirty green, and forms a 

 cloud round the stems of pondweeds. It grows in great 

 abundance in some fish-nonds at Elfords, near Hawkhurst. 

 In the same neighbourhood I found the Entangled species 

 floating in a yellowish green mass on half-dried ponds 

 during the summer months (C. tracta). Its filaments are 

 branched. 



I have frequently found the Chestnut Conferva 

 entwining among mosses, or forming a coating on a 

 bank side. There is a black species, and a violet one 

 with very fine branches, but these I have not even seen. 



The Ulvaceae order has also its fresh water members, 

 one, which floats like green bubbles upon stagnant ditches, 

 is familiar to every one, only it never struck most observers 

 to call the noisome coating an Ulva. 



The order succeeding that of Ulvacege is entirely 

 composed of freshwater Algae. Being very minute 



plants, they are of course described 

 by an extra long name, Batra- 

 chospermece. The name means 

 Frog Spawn, and all the members 

 are slimy to the touch. The 

 River Lemania is a sturdy look- 

 ing little plant, of an olive colour, 



1. BOTRYDIUM. 



2. batrachospermum. and with the branches circularly 



3. protococcus. bent 



