. 
96 PHOSPHORESCENCE IN 
It is quite possible, however, that the syno- 
nyms given above refer to more than one plant ; 
it is very probable also that many byssoid fungi 
are luminous in the dark, and that this phospho- 
ric property pertains to many other cryptogams. 
Adrien de Jussieu, in his ‘Hléments de Bota- 
nique,’ remarks that certain kinds of wood become 
phosphorescent when they are exposed to the 
damp after they have been cut in full sap. The 
phosphoric hght emitted in this case appears to 
be owing to one of the byssoid fungi just named. 
No Alge have, if I mistake not, been described 
as phosphorescent, although many whilst grow- 
img under water reflect colours which perish al- 
most immediately when the plant 1s removed to 
the air. Of this class are several species of Cysto- 
seira, especially C. ericoides, which, though really 
of a greenish-olive, appears when growing under 
water to be clothed with the richest phosphoric 
greens and blues, changing momently, as the 
branches move to and fro in the water. Similar 
colours, according to Harvey, have been observed, 
though in a less striking degree, on some of the 
Red Alge, and the genus Iridwa derives its name 
from this phenomenon. Chondrus crispus 1s ob- 
served to be occasionally iridescent, and at the 
Cape of Good Hope Champia compressa and Chy- 
locladia Cupensis present very brilliant raimbow 
colours, etc. ‘The cause of these brilliant co- 
