124 COMMON SEAWEEDS. 



bead is a spore, which, when mature, breaks through 

 the membrane and falls into the water. 



As this plant resembles Conferva in colour and 

 texture, it requires careful examination. The whorls 

 of feathery filaments decide its name. Found in the 

 Channel Islands, and on south coast of England, but 

 is rare. 



DASYA. 



(Name signifying " hairy.") 



This is as much desired a plant as the bright Plo- 

 camium. The crimson feathery tufts preserve their 

 colour, and form one of our most beautiful pages in 

 the collection ; for fancy work on cardboard it is in- 

 valuable. Although it may certainly be gathered on 

 rocks at low-water mark, yet it is most frequently 

 found on the shore after a storm. 



There are four species, all well worth seeking. 



The commonest is Dasya Coccinea. Stem from six 

 to eight inches long, undivided, thick as a small cord, 

 and clothed with short shaggy hairs. A thin slice of 

 this under the microscope shows nine radiating 

 siphons round a small cavity, bordered by a band of 

 minute cells. The fruit is truly beautiful, and consists 

 of two kinds. 



Fructification. — 1. A transparent urn or capsule, 

 called ceramidia, containing a tuft of crimson spores, 

 seated between two forked ramuli or little branches. 

 2. SticJiidia, or oblong pods, also transparent and like 

 net-work, containing tetraspores arranged in trans- 

 verse bands. 



