CONFERVACE. 135 
Famtiry IJ. CONFERVACEA. 
Threads articulate, either simple or branched, vegetation 
terminal, unlimited. Articulations more or less elongated, 
rarely abbreviated, now and then shorter than the diameter, 
cylindrical, rarely swollen, Cell membrane sometimes mani- 
festly lamellose. Chlorophyllose mass granulate, containing 
starch granules, effused, parietal, or sometimes contracted in the 
centre of the cell. 
Vegetation by the repeated division of the primordial utricle 
in one direction. 
Propagation by zoogonidia, 
Genus 58. MICROSPORA. Thur. (1851.) 
Articulate thread simple. Chlorophyllose mass at first 
parietal, afterwards contracted in the centre. All articulations 
fertile. 
Propagation by zoogonidia. Zoogonidia arising from a 
simultaneous division of the cell contents, small, numerous, 
ovate-elliptical, cuspidate and colourless at one end, usually 
furnished with two, rarely 3 to 4, cilia, escaping by rupture of 
the cell. 
Microspora fugacissima. (Ag. Syst. p 48.) 
Pale green, or yellowish green, articulations before division 
4 to 5 times as long as their diameter, after division about 2 to 
24 times as long, not constricted at the joints. 
Size. Cells ‘0085-01 mm. diam. 
Rabh. Alg. Eur, iii., 321. 
Conferva fugacissima, Grev. Fl. Ed. 817. Gray Arr. i., 310. 
Kirsch. Alg. Schl. p. 80. 
In ditches. 
Plate LITT. fig. 1. Portions of threads of M. fugacissima x 300 
diam. 
Microspora vulgaris. Rabh. Alg. Hur, ut, 821, 
Bright green, articulations 2 to 34 times as long as the 
diameter. 
Size. Threads -012 mm. diameter. 
Conferva bombycina inequalis, Kutz, Tab. iii., t. 44, f. 3. 
Microspora bombycina, Thuret. Rech. p. 12. 
Conferva vulgaris, Kirsch. Alg. Schl. p. 79. 
In ditches and pools. 
Plate LIII. fig 2. Portions of threads of M. vulgaris X 300 diam. 
Ww 
