Fig. 304. CLADOPHORA RUDOLPHIANA. 



Colour. Bright yellow-green. 



Substance. Extremely soft and silky; almost gelatinous; adhering closely to 

 paper. 



Character of Frond. Long tufts of jointed threads (filaments), very much 

 branched. Filaments exceedingly slender^ inextricably entangled. 

 Branches three-forked {trichotomous) or irregular; repeatedly branched; 

 plentifully clothed with branchlets which are much divided and 

 branched, almost tufted; the last set very long and finely drawn out; 

 secund, or partly alternate. Tips very fine. 



Joints. Those of the main filaments many times as long as broad, here and 

 there swollen. Of the branchlets from six to ten times. The 

 colouring matter in them apt to take a spiral form. 



Measurement. From 6 to 20 inches long. 



Fructificcttion. Minute seeds {zoospores) formed of the colouring matter in 

 the joints, and in due time bursting through them. 



Habitat. A few stations on our coasts. In Roundstone Bay plentiful. 

 Oonnemara. Falmouth. On algae and Zostera in from two to six 

 fathoms^ water. Very local, therefore rare. 



ResembUng G. gracilis in the great length of the branchlets, but much slen- 

 derer and softer. In general appearance and the length of the joints like G. 

 Balliani, but much more profusely branched, and differently. 'Not unlike G. 

 alhida either; but from this the great length of the joints keeps it as clear as 

 one Gladophora can be kept from another. But this is a genus abounding in 

 intermediate forms, and, at present, in doubtful distinctions! Perhaps le hon 

 temps viendra when these difficulties will be cleared up. 



Fig. 305. CLADOPHORA REFRACTA. 



Colo2ir. Bright green, sometimes yellowish. 



Substance. Rather rigid; bristling; imperfectly adhering to paper. 



Character of Frond. Tufts of jointed threads {filaments), very much branched. 

 Filaments long; slender; the stems somewhat woven together and 

 ropy. Secondary branches free; spreading on all sides and much 

 divided; densely clothed with short, spreading or back-curved, 

 opposite or alternate branchlets; which are furnished on the inside 

 with a second set arranged like the teeth of a comb {pectinated) . 



Joints. Twice or thrice as long as broad throughout. 



Measurement. Three or 4 inches long. 



Fructification. Minute seeds {zoospores) formed of the colouring matter in 

 the joints, and in due time bursting through them. 



Habitat. Our coasts generally. In rocky pools left by the tide. Not 

 uncommon. 



iN'early allied to G. alhida, but with coarser and far more rigid filaments; also 

 its last branchlets shorter and more wide-spread (often strongly bent back); 

 and the whole plant by no means spongy. 



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