Ser. RHopOSsPERME®. Fam. Rhodomelea. 
Prats CCXCIX. 
POLYSIPHONIA FASTIGIATA, Grev. 
Gen. Cuar. Frond filamentous, partially or generally articulate; articula- 
tions longitudinally striate, composed of numerous, radiating cells or 
tubes, disposed round a central cavity. Fructification twofold, on 
different individuals: 1, ovate capsules (ceramidia) furnished with a 
terminal pore, and containing a tuft of pear-shaped spores; 2, ¢etra- 
spores, imbedded in swollen branchlets. PotystpHonta (Grev.),— 
from modus, many, and oer, a tube. 
PotysrPHonta fastigiata ; filaments rigid, setaceous, of equal diameter 
throughout, forming globular, fastigiate tufts, many times dichoto- 
mous; the axils patent; articulations shorter than their diameter, 
multistriate, with a dark central spot; siphons from sixteen to 
eighteen. 
PotystpHonta fastigiata, Grev. Fl. Edin. p.308. Harv. in Hook. Br. Fl. 
vol. ii. p. 333. Harv. in Mack. Fl. Hib. part 3. p. 209. Harv. Man. ed. 2. 
p- 92. Wyatt, Alg. Danm.no.177. Endl. 3rd Suppl. p.45. Kiitz. Sp. 
Alg. p. 809. Kiitz. Phyc. Gen. p. 420. t. 50. f. 3. 
Hurcurnsta fastigiata, 49. Syn. p.53. Hook. Fl. Scot. part 2. p. 87. Ag. 
Syst. p.154. Lyngb. Hyd. Dan. p.108. t.33. Ag. Sp. Alg. vol. ii. p. 67. 
CrramivuM fastigiatum, Roth, Fl. Germ. vol. ili. p. 463. Cat. Bot. vol. iii. 
p- 157. 
Conrerva polymorpha, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 721. Fl. Dan. t. 395. 
Dillen. Muse. t. 6. fig. 35. Ellis, Phil. Trans. vol. Wii. p. 426. t. 18. 
fig.a.A.b.B. Huds. Fl. Angl. vol. li. p.599. Lightf. Fl. Scot. vol. ii. 
p- 989. Dillw. Conf. t.44. EH. Bot.t. 1764. 
Fucus lanosus, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. ii. p. 718. Huds. Fl. Ang. vol. ii. p. 590. 
Has. Parasitical on the littoral Fuci, especially upon Fucus nodosus. 
Perennial. Summer and autumn, Very uncommon. 
Grocer. Distr. Atlantic shores of Europe and North America. Baltic Sea. 
Descr. Root a minute disc. Fronds forming dense, globular, fastigiate tufts, 
from one to two or three inches in diameter. Filaments as thick as horse- 
hair below, slightly attenuated upwards, excessively branched from the 
base, dichotomous, either bare of lateral ramuli or furnished with a greater 
or less number, which are short and once or twice forked. _Apices spread- 
ing, of nearly equal length, subulate; axils acute. Articulations shorter 
than their length, with hyaline dissepiments, many-striate and marked 
with a dark, central spot, being a bag of coloured endochrome which fills 
the central tube or cavity of the frond: radiating cells from sixteen to 
eighteen. Capsules ovate, near the tips of the branches, formed from the 
