erect ; but sometimes they are arched ; and, in a distorted variety occasionally 
found, they are bent at right angles in a zigzag manner. In all the lesser 
branches and ramuli taper considerably to each end. Tubercles (coccidia) 
large, sessile, roundish or subovate, with a subacute nipple, plentifully 
scattered over the branches, and containing a mass of minute, ovate spores ; 
their pericarp composed externally of radiating filaments, internally of 
angular cells. Zetraspores minute, imbedded in the surface cells of the 
branches, or distinct plants. Colour a pale or deep purple-red, becoming 
greenish, and at length white in decay. Swdstance cartilaginous, flexible, 
horny when dry, and very imperfectly adhering to paper. 
Oe 
A variable plant, as its numerous synonymes testify, and yet, 
with a little practice, easily recognized among British Algze. 
Several exotic species, however, nearly approach it, some of which 
ought, perhaps, to be united with it. 
By Dr. J. Agardh, in his excellent work on the Algz of the 
Mediterranean, Gracilaria confervoides is placed in the genus 
Hypnea. If the differences between the genera Hypnea and 
Gracilaria consist, as Agardh declares, more in peculiarities of 
natural habit than of definite structural characters, in my opmion, 
C. confervoides coincides better with the latter group; and I am 
very unwilling to place it in a different genus from such nearly 
allied plants as G@. dura and G. compressa. But besides natural 
habit, the tetraspores in the true Hypnee are, 1 believe, always 
annularly divided, like those of Plocamium, and I am not aware 
of this being the case in any species of Gracilaria. 
Fig. 1. GRACILARIA CONFERVOIDES :—wnatural size. 2. Longitudinal semi- 
section of a branch. 38. Transverse section of the same. 4. Vertical sec- 
tion of a tubercle. 5. Spores from the same. 
