V. RHODOMELACEJ]:. 33 



/3. has a more evident leading stem, with long, subsimple branches set with 

 lateral, miiltifid, secondary branches about an inch in length, whose divisions ai'e 

 closer together than, in the common form. The ramuli, especially the lower ones, 

 are remarkably patent, squarrose, or even revolute. The conceptacles, abundant, 

 on some of Dr. Coulter's specimens, are of the ordinary form, so characteristic of 

 this species. 



2. Foi.YSiFno'siA /brmosa, Suhr; filaments very flaccid", capillary, full red, much 

 branched, branches subdichotomous, long, flexuous, furnished with scattered, spread- 

 ing, alternate, attenuate, more or less compound ramuli ; internodes four-tubed, 

 those of the branches 5-10 times longer than broad, of the ramuli short; concep- 

 tacles stalked, urn-shaped, with a projecting, narrow orifice; teti'aspores in the 

 ultimate ramuli. Suhr, Bot. Zeit. 1831. p. 709- Harv. Fhyc. Brit. t. 168. Pol. 

 Hooperi, Bailey MSS. Conferva stricta ? Dillw. t. 40. 



Hab. Prince Edward's Island, Dr. Jeans! Boston Bay, Miss E. H. Brewer! 

 Dr. Durkee! New Bedford, Dr. Roche! Fort Hamilton and other spots in New 

 York Bay, Messrs. Walters! Hooper! Pike ! Congdon! Calverley! &c. (v. v.) 



Titfts dense, very flaccid. Filaments finer than human hair, 4-8 inches long, very 

 mucli branched, decompound, without obvious leading stem, alternately or sub- 

 dichotomously divided, the penultimate branchlets multifid, and the ramuli fre- 

 quently secund, attenuate, subulate. In some specimens, when carefully opened 

 out, a leading stem set with alternate decompound branches may be more or less 

 distinctly traced The lowermost divisions of each branch are generally simple 

 and filiform, the upper ones longer, gradually more compound, alternately pinnated 

 in their upper half. Apices frequently multifid and subcorymbose. Internodes of 

 the stem 5-10 times as long as broad, of the branches 3-4 times, of the ultimate 

 ramuli very short. Tubes 4, broad, with narrow intersjjaces, and broadish, trans- 

 parent dissepiments. Conceptacles generally stalked. Colour when growing, a fine, 

 clear red, becoming darker in the herbarium, and sometimes changing to brown. 

 In fresh water the plant soon gives out a rosy tint. It adheres very closely to 

 paper in drying. 



Except in the more slender filaments, softer and more lubricous substance, and 

 rather longer internodes, this species does not differ from the preceding. These 

 characters, which are obvious in the extreme forms of either species, gradually dis- 

 appear when a great number of specimens from different localities are examined 

 and compared together, and I fear that P. formosa can only be regarded as a 

 beautiful variety of P. urceolata. Be this as it may, it seems to be the same as 

 Dillwyn's Conferva stricta, a name which has many years priority to that here 

 adopted, l)ut which is applicable only to the immature state of the frond. I cannot 

 distinguish P. Hooperi, Bail, from the ordinary form. 



