42 COMMON SEAWEEDS. 



POLYSIPHONIA. 



(Xame from two Greek words, signifying " many siphons.") 



As I am not writing a scientific work, but simply a 

 useful hand-book for the seaweed collector, I must 

 pass from Fusi, or olive green seaweeds, to one which 

 belongs to UliodosjpermcB, or red seaweeds, because it 

 will be the very first to arrest attention, and raise a 

 question, " Is this worth gathering ? " 



"We cannot fail to observe on the fronds of Fucus or 

 old-cut stems of the Fucus Vesiculosus, thick masses of 

 brownish or purplish weed, hanging in dense tufts 

 here and there. Gather some by all means — it is a 

 Folysiplionia. 



These seaweeds are some of the hidden beauties of 

 Creation. How could we with the unassisted eye see 

 aught that is lovely in those dark purple, or olive- 

 brown tufts, growing so abundantly on the common 

 Micas everywhere ? The tribe of the Polysiphonia is 

 large and various ; it spreads from high to low tide ; 

 some very small and delicate, or long and filmy, and 

 the colour from brown to violet in every intermediate 

 shade. 



Twenty-four species are found in Britain. (See 

 systematic list.) 



Generic character. — Frond thread-like, partially or 

 generally articulate ; the joints are striped, because the 

 stem is composed of parallel tubes or siphons, from 

 whence its name— -poly, many; siphon, tube. The 

 number of these tubes varies in the species, and helps 

 to determine them. 



Fructification. — Twofold on distinct plants: — 1. 



