Ser. RHODOSPERME. Fam. Gloiocladiea. 
Piate CLXI. 
NEMALEON? PURPUREUM, Chaw. 
Gen. Cuar. Fronds cylindrical, gelatinoso-cartilaginous, elastic, solid ; axis 
columnar, dense, composed of closely-packed, longitudinal, interlaced 
filaments; the periphery of elongated, horizontal, dichotomous filaments, 
whose ultimate ramuli are moniliform and coloured. Fructification; 
globular masses of spores (/ave//idia), attached to the filaments of the 
periphery. Nemateon (Zozzetti),—from vypa, a thread, and Amor, a 
crop: crop of threads. 
NEMALEON purpureum; stem undivided, attenuated at base and apex, set with 
numerous, irregularly inserted, elongated, simple, tapering branches, 
which are either naked, or furnished with a second series of similar 
branches. 
NEMALEON purpureum, Chauv. mem. p. 57. 
MesocGtora purpurea, Harv. in Hook. Br. Fl. vol. ii. p. 386. Harv. Man. 
p- 48. Wyatt, Alg. Danm. no. 47. 
Dumontra Calvadosi, Lamour. Dict. D’ Hist. Nat. vol. v. p. 643. Gaill. Dict. 
Se. Nat. vol. 53. p. 364. Duby, Bot. Gall. p. 941. 
Has. In sandy places, among Zostera, near low-water mark. Annual. 
Summer. Rare. Sidmouth and Torquay, Mrs. Griffiths and Miss 
Cutler. Whitsand Bay, Rev. W. 8. Hore. Kilkee and Miltown 
Malbay, W.H.H. Balbriggan, Miss Gower. 
Geroer. Distr. Atlantic coasts of France. 
Descr. Root, a minute, conical disc. Frond from eight inches to two feet or 
more in length, slender at the base, gradually widening to a diameter of 
two to three les in the middle, and thence gradually tapering upwards 
into a long, slender point, mostly undivided, or sometimes forked or trifur- 
cate at the extremity, set throughout its length with alternate or opposite 
irregularly inserted lateral branches. Branches closely placed, patent, con- 
stricted at base, flexuous, very long, drawn out into a long, slender point, 
generally quite naked, or, in large specimens, furnished with a second 
series of smaller and more slender branches. All the apices much attenuated 
and acute. The avs is composed of rather laxly interwoven, colourless, 
branching, longitudinal threads, which throw out on all sides to the cir- 
cumference, horizontal, dichotomous, coloured, moniliform filaments, with 
elliptical or pyriform joints. Under the microscope, the branches appear 
as if thickly studded with convex, coloured cells, (the apices of the filaments 
of the periphery,) separated by pellucid spaces. Colour varying from a fine 
deep purple red to a dull pink, rapidly given out in fresh water, and 
becoming browner in drying. Sudstance tender, gelatmous, and slippery, 
but not very elastic. Fructification (imperfectly known), consisting of 
masses of spores, seated among the filaments of the periphery. 
OOO ISS I eee 
M. Chauvin of Caen, in his excellent “ Recherches,’ * gives a 
* RecHERcHES sur l’organization, la fructification, et la classification de 
plusieurs genres d’Algues, avec la description de quelques espéces inédites ou 
peu connues.—Caen, 1842. 
