ChorclanecbP\ chordaria. 171 



Genus XXXY. CHOEDAEIA, Agardh. 



Gen. Char. Filiform, mucli branched, cartilaginous, soUd. 

 Axis composed of densely packed, longitudinal, interlaced, cylin- 

 drical filaments ; the periphery of simple, club-shaped, horizontal, 

 whorled spores, seated among the filaments, and long byssoid, 

 gelatinous fibres. Fructification, obovate spores, seated among 

 the filaments of the periphery. — Clwrdaria^ from the Latin word 

 signifying a cord. — Harvey. - 



1. Chord ARIA plagelliformis, Agardh, 



Hab. Attached to rocks and stones in the sea. Annual. 

 Summer. Common on all our British shores. In some 

 places it grows to the length of three feet, but it is seldom 

 found more than the third of that length in the west of 

 Scotland. It is not thicker than small twine, and hence is 

 generally known by the name of wJdjo-cord. When in the 

 water it is seen to be thickly set with very fine fibres, giving 

 it a whitish appearance, and these, along with the mucus, 

 render it very slimy to the touch, though the dark-coloured 

 filaments themselves are firm. In drying it generally stains 

 the paper of a rusty colour. With us it is often, when 

 young, clothed with Gomphonema paradoxumj which gives 

 it a beautiful appearance. 



