Polysiphonia.] ALG/E RHODOSPERMEiE. 207 



i 



Filaments rising from a mass of creeping fibres, tufted and in- 

 terwoven, short, very slender, flexuose, sparingly and irregularly 

 dichotomous, more or less furnished with very patent or re- 

 curved simple ramuli ; articulations variable in length, bi-striate ; 

 capsules urceolate, very large (in proportion to the diameter of 

 the filament), scattered. 



On rocks and Algae in the sea ; probably not uncommon. At Port- 

 stewart ; Mr. D. Moore. Miltown Malbay ; W. H. Harvey. Tufts 

 dense, intricate, about an inch in height, composed of very slender, 

 capillary, flexuose filaments, brownish-red. I have long known this 

 species on the western coast, but have hitherto feared to introduce it. 

 It resembles P. urceolata or P. patens in miniature, but is of a very 

 flaccid substance, and not one-fourth the size of either of those species ; 

 and is, moreover, well distinguished by the very large size of the cap- 

 sule in proportion to the diameter of the filament. Like P. stricta, 

 and several exotic species, the stems rise from a mass of interwoven 

 fibres. 



9. P. urceolata, Grev. Pitcher-fruited Polysiphonia. Fila- 

 ments rigid, cartilaginous, much branched, loosely entangled ; 

 branches dichotomous, erecto-patent ; middle articulations 4 5 

 times longer than broad ; capsules with a produced contracted 

 neck, shortly pedunculate. Harv. in Hook. Br. FL v. ii. p. 330. 

 Conf. urceolata, E. Bot. t. 2365. 



On rocks and the larger Algae. Closely allied to the following, 

 from which it chiefly differs in its less squarrose ramification. 



10. P. patens, Grev. Patent Polysiphonia. Filaments car- 

 tilaginous, sparingly branched, entangled, beset with short, pa- 

 tent, recurved ramuli, bistriate ; middle articulations 2 3 times 

 longer than broad ; capsules with a short contracted neck, sub- 

 sessile. Harv. in Hook. Br. Fl. v. ii. p. 330. Conf. patens 9 

 Dillw. Hutchinsia urceolata, Lyngb. Hydroph. Dan. t. 34. 

 (excellent.) 



On the stems of Laminaria digitata, common. Stems subsimple, 

 entangled, dull red. Ramuli revolute. 



* 4t Articulations multistriate. 

 /N * f Rigid; stria 3, ramuli spinaform. 



11. P. parasitica, Grev. Parasitic Polysiphonia. Filaments 

 slender, rigid; branches alternate, distichous, bi-tripinnate ; 

 pinnulae alternate, erect, spinaeform ; articulations as long as 

 broad, three tubed. Harv. in Hook. Br. FL v. ii. p. 330. 

 Conf. parasitica, E. Bot. t. 1429. 



On the larger Algse and on rocks, not uncommon. Bantry bay ; 

 Miss Hutchins. Kilkee ; and under " the Black Castle," Wicklow, 

 very fine. 1 2 inches high, full red, slender ; delicately and beauti- 

 fully bipinnate. 



