Fig. 286. BRYOPSIS PLUMOSA. 



Colour. A fine^ deep^ glossy green; steins especially glistening when dried 

 and partly emptied of colouring matter. 



SuhstancG. Membranaceous^ but firm; slippery. 



Character of Frond. Tbread-sbaped {filiform) ; uninterruptedly tubular 

 throughout; filled with green colouring matter; much branched. 

 Stems sometimes undivided, and set with numerous close branches; 

 sometimes irregularly forked. Branches naked below; above^ closely 

 plumed like a feather, with short, slender, nearly opposite branchlets; 

 these sometimes re-branchleted with a smaller set (branchletee7^s) ; the 

 lower branchlets longest; upper, short; producing a lanceolate outline 

 of branch. The whole at one level, or rarely otherwise. 



Measurement. From 1 to 4 inches long. 



Fructification. Minute seeds (zoospores; so called from having at one period 

 a motion as if endowed with animal life) ; formed in the colouring 

 matter of the frond. 



Habitat. Our coasts generally. On rocks near low-water mark. Not 

 uncommon. 



Dr. Harvey describes it as "a plant whose branclies resemble beautiful, glossy, 

 bright-green feathers." It is well grown in Filey Bay on a fiat ledge of rocks 

 leading to "The Spittals," only uncovered at very low tides. In an Aquarium 

 it sometimes degenerates into a very ugly, unplumose variety; the B. Lamorouxii 

 of some authors. 



Fig. 287. BRYOPSIS HYPNOIDES. 



Colour. A fine yellowish green; stems especially glistening when dried and 

 partly emptied of colouring matter. 



Suhstance. Membranaceous, but firm; slippery. . 



Character of Frond. Thread-shaped [filiform)', uninterruptedly tubular 

 throughout; filled with green colouring matter; very much branched. 

 Stems undivided or- irregularly forked; furnished with long, alternate, 

 re-branched or irregularly-divided branches; the lesser ones set with 

 long, slender branchlets; more or less crowded with branchletee'^s 

 towards their tips. Branchletee??s springing from all sides. 



Measurement. From 2 to 4 inches long. 



Fructification. Minute seeds [zoospores; so called from having at one period 

 a motion as if endowed with animal life); formed in the colouring 

 matter of the frond. 



Ilahitat. The warmer stations of our coasts. South of England. West of 

 Ireland, &c. On rocks and the large alg^, especially Laminaria 

 saccliarina, at extreme low-water mark and beyond. Rare generally. 



A slenderer, lighter coloured, and more compoundly-branched plant than B. 

 plumosa; but intermediate specimens occur. 



48 



