Fig. 62. ELACHISTA FLACCIDA. 



Colour. Dull olive-brown. 

 Suhsiance. Soft; membranaceous. 



Character of Frond. A small, dense tuft (rising from a tubercle) ; parasitic on 



Cystoseira fibrosa. Threads of the tuft simple; tapering to the base; jointed. , 



Measurement. Half an inch long. 



Fructification. Minute seeds {spores) concealed in the substance of the tubercle. 

 Habitat. Our coasts generally. On Cystoseira fibrosa^ common. 



Fig. 63. ELACHISTA CURTA. 



Colour. Pale olive. - - 



Substance, llather rigid. 



Character of Frond. Very minute tufts (rising from a tubercle) ; parasitic on Fuci. 

 Threads {filaments) of the tuft very short; tapering to the base; jointed. 



Measurement. From i i^^h long. 



Fructification. Minute seeds {spores) concealed in the substance of the tubercle. 

 Hahitat. Swansea. On Fuci, between tide-marks. 



A plant which has not been found for many years; and the re-finding of 

 which would well reward the trouble of search. 



Fig. 64. ELACHISTA STELLULATA. 



Colour. Olive-brown. 



Substance. Soft; membranaceous. 



Character of Frond. Extremely minute, starry tufts (rising from a tubercle) ; parasitic 

 on Dictyota dichotoma. Threads {filaments) of the tuft short; tapering to 

 the base, thickening upwards to a blunt point {clavate) ; jointed. 



Measurement. About -j^ of an inch in diameter. 



Fructification. Probably like that of the other Elachistas. Dr. Harvey has not yet 

 found it. 



Habitat. Torquay. On the fronds of Dictyota dichotoma. 



It is not known that any one has met with this alga since Mrs. Grriffiths 

 discovered it at Torquay a few years ago. Unless closely examined under the 

 microscope, it may be mistaken for the fruit of Dictyota dichotoma. Dr. Harvey 

 describes the tufts as resembling "minute stars, or Echini." It well deserves 

 further search. 



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