ECTO< AIM' A i V.Y.. 57 



Hob, South ooasi of England. Parasitica] on several of the 



smaller AJgSB. Annual. Hart'. 



One of the Leasl beautiful forms of the genus, bul Dot 

 without interest, as a connecting Link between the simpler 

 ami more branching species. It grows on Beveral of the 

 smaller Algae, which it clothes with shaggy Eocculi, com- 

 pared to tufts of pale-bro^i a wool. In drying it sometimes 

 assumes a green colour. TSctocarpus pusittus is one of 

 those unobtrusive plants, it' I may bo call them, which, un- 

 less closely looked for, are easily overlooked. It is no easy 

 matter, at all times, to recognize the different Ectocarpi 

 by the naked eye. and this accounts for so many Bpec 



this genus being passed over by persons who are unaccus- 

 tomed to the microscope. 



88. distortus {The distorted JSctocarpus) ; filaments very much 

 branched, matted together, dark-brown, angularly benl ; 

 branches spreading at very obtuse angles, alternate or >c- 

 cund ; ramnli horizontally patent or recurved, scattered, 

 short, spinelike, obtuse ; spores ohovate, sessile or Bubsessile, 

 Carm,, Harv. in Hook. Br. Ft. v. 2. p. 320. (Atlas, PL 

 XX. Fig. 87.) 

 Hah. Appin. Parasitical on the leaves of Zostera marina. An- 

 nual. Summer and autumn. 

 A comparison of the figures of tliis and the following 

 species will enable the student to appreciate the characters 

 of these plants, and, I hope, to discriminate between them. 

 /.'. /. indshurgii'vA not only more thorny in aspect, but is 

 of a far more rigid substance, and muck less transparent : 

 nor does it grow in large densely interwoven tufts like JS, 

 distortus. Both Bpecies appear to be of rare occurrence. 

 8 ( J. Landsburg-ii (LandsborougW s Ectocarpus) j filaments dark- 

 brown, tenacious, intricate, much branched ; branches irre- 

 gularly forked, divaricated, zigzag, bristling with numerous 

 short, Bpine-like, horizontal ramuli ; articulations shorter 

 than broad, the endoehrome filling the cell, and recovering 

 its shape <>n being moistened after haying been dried, Harv, 

 Phy. Brit. pi. 233. (Atlas, PL XX. Fig. ss.) 

 Hob. Scotland and Ireland. Dredged in deep water, in land- 

 locked bays; rare. Annual. Summer. 

 The ramification of our IS. Landsburgii *o nearly.:. 

 with that of /•/. distortus, Oarm., that I fell disposed, at 

 first, to regard it as that species. But a careful comparison 

 of both plants, placed side by Bide on the table of the mi- 

 croscope, Las convinced me of their perfect distinctness. 



