319 



FAM. XVIII. PROTOCOCCE^E. 



Char. Stratum indefinite, friable, formed by an aggregation 

 of distinct globules, tohich, not being immersed in gelatine, 

 and not enclosed by a common investing membrane, are 

 readily separable from each other on the. application of 

 moisture. 



48. BOTRIDINA Breb. 



Char. " Frond gelatinous, globose, at a later period entirely 

 constituted of vesicles enclosing granules ; at length the 

 internal vesicles being absorbed, and the outer cellular 

 membrane defined, including granules imbedded in mu- 

 cus." 



Derivation. The diminutive of ftorpv?, a bunch. 



Obs. " Cl. Brebisson humanissimis literis observationes 

 suas communicavit, quibus innixus novum hoc genus pro- 

 posuit, has ipsas maxima pro parte et nos ipsi veritate 

 apprime respondentes invenimus. In hoc tamen nostra differt 

 sententia, quod granula secundum Cl. Brebisson in alveolis 

 tantum periphericis sita, nobis contra in alveolis cum peri- 

 phericis turn interioribus initio nidulari videantur, sed alve-^ 

 olis sine vesiculis illis interioribus serius resorptis, et peri- 

 phericis tantum iisdemque vacuis, membrana efformatur 

 globules jam evolutos et propagatione aptos muco obvolutos 

 includens. Nomen a Cl. Brebisson propositum, legibus 

 glossologiae non omnino concisum, delere ausi non sumus." 

 Meneghini. 



This genus resembles somewhat in structure the compound 

 pollen granules of many plants. 



Note. The Anacystis furfuracea Menegh., a production very different 

 from the Palmetto, furfuracea Berk., with which Meneghini supposed it 

 identical, and one coming near to Botridina, is a British Alga. I have 

 more than once met with it. 



