Fig. 105. POLYSIPHONIA ELONGATA. 



Colour. Dark red; becoming almost black in drying, all but the finer tips. 

 Substance. Stems robust and firm; branclilets flaccid. 



Character of Frond. Tufts of jointed threads {^laments) irregularly branched. 

 Stems as thick as whipcord; they and the branches tapering at both 

 ends. (See figure.) Branches producing but few branclilets the first 

 year. In winter, these and the tips of the branches die ofi", leaving 

 the frond stunted, and often very unsightly till the following spring; 

 when a new growth commences; the broken branches putting out 

 vigorous shoots, which end in fine tufts of crimson branchlets, as 

 figured in Fig. 106; and on these the fructification is borne. Joints 

 marked with several upright lines (internal tubes) seen through the 

 branchlets. 



Internal Tubes. Four primary ones; several secondary. 

 Measurement. From 6 to 12 inches long. 



Fructification. Of two kinds. 1. Clustered spores in ovate, stalkless {sessile) 

 capsules; external; on the branches; either clustered or scattered. 

 2. Tetraspores, either imbedded in the ends of swollen branchlets^ or 

 borne in minute pod-like processes on the branches. 



Hahitai. Our coasts generally. On stones, shells, corallines, &c. In pools 

 between tide-marks, and in from five to ten fathoms' water. 



Although the structure is strictly jointed {articulated, see figure,) the artic- 

 ulations of the stem and primary branches are indistinct, from the surface cells 

 being small and irregularly placed. For other Polysiphonias, see Plate XXY. 

 &c. 



Fig. 106. POLYSIPHONIA ELONGATA. Vae. 



This form is no longer recognized as a variety, but merely as the second 

 summer's condition of P. elongata, (See last description.) It is the var. 7. 

 sanguinolenta of Agardh, and the P. rosea of Greville. In the same manner 

 the bare winter condition was at one time taken for a variety, and called 

 var. 13. denudata. 



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