148 SEA MOSSBS. 



This is a deep-water species, and is reported 

 as not common all along the coast from New York 

 to Gloucester. 



POLYSIPHONIA VIOLACEA, GREV.* 



This is by far our most common Polysiphonia 



considerably outranking even P. urceolata. It grows 



everywhere on the rocks and on several other Algae, in 



pools and in deep water, as well as just below tide. 



I take it often as it comes in upon the waves, with 



my long-handled dipper, picking out the plants I want, 



from among the hundreds which go floating by, up and 



down. 



The stem is once or twice as thick as a bristle. 



Beautiful plants may be found, not more than two 

 or three inches high ; but plants from twelve to eighteen 

 inches high, are by no means uncommon. 



The distinguishing marks of the species are mainly 

 these: i. The presence of a leading stem, branched 

 all around in all the fronds. Sometimes there will 

 seem to be two or three main stems. But this appear- 

 ance arises from the extraordinary development of 

 some of the lower branches. 2. The form of the 

 primary branches, which are long and somewhat widely 

 spreading at the base, but become regularly shorter 



* Violacea = Violet colored. 



