CHLOROSPERME. 21 
group of magnified filaments at Fig. 19. In the species V. clavata, 
which is frequently found in fresh water, growing in little cushion-like 
tufts, the fruit is formed and perfected in the tips of the filaments, where 
the dark-green granular matter is consolidated, and becomes separated 
from the lower portion by a diaphragm or colourless space. This separated 
mass, which is somewhat bent in at the centre, forces its way through the 
tip of the filament, and moves about by means of vibratile cilia, until it 
has fixed itself, when, by lengthening at each end, it gradually assumes 
the characteristic form of its species, and thus a new individual is produced. 
Fig. 23 represents the little club-shaped tip of a filament, the reproductive 
body forcing its way through the cell wall. The stems and branches of 
all these pretty little green plants are entirely devoid of joints or parti- 
tions, being tubular from the base to the tip of the branches—hence the 
term Siphonacee, the name of the order to which they belong. 
The most attractive species among the Siphonacee is unquestionably 
Bryopsis plumosa, very well represented in the illustration (Fig. 24), from a 
plant taken at St. Leonard’s several years ago. The fronds of this pretty 
green plant arise several from the same base. The plumose or feathered 
portion is generally confined to the upper half of the fronds, and always 
terminates them. Occasionally in very luxuriant specimens, the fronds 
are feathered very nearly to the base, and throw out lateral branches which 
are beset again with numerous little plumes, until the whole plant presents 
the appearance of a bunch of delicate green feathers. Every frond of this 
species is a continuous tube containing a dark green very minutely 
granular matter, and it is from this fluid endochrome, when cast loose 
from the plant, that the 
species is propagated. This 
lovely plant usually grows on 
the shady side of rock pools, 
and generally under shelter 
of some of the larger or mem- 
branous alge. This reminds 
me not only of the exquisite 
groups of seaweeds one finds 
in every rock pool, but of one 
in particular near the end of 
the Southend pier, where 
many years ago, in my early 
seaweeding days, I found the 
first specimen of Bryopsis 
Fie. 24. Bryopsis plumosa, plumosa I had ever seen, 
growing in company with a charming filamentous Rhodosperm, and a 
finely iridescent plant of Chondrus or carrageen moss. On the occasion to 
which I refer, the rainbow tints thrown off by this plant, mingled with the 
green of the Bryopsis, and the crimson waving branches of its other com- 
panion, formed a submarine picture of the utmost grace and beauty. The 
