Fig. 110. POLYSIPHONIA FORMOSA. 



Colour. Full red; becoming dark in dryina". 



Substance. Exceedingly soft and flaccid. Soon decomposing in fresh water. 

 Character of Frond. Long, dense tnfts of jointed threads {filaments)-, exceedingly 



slender; much branched. Branches partially forked {sub-dicliotomous)\ long; 



wavy; bearing a second or third series; branchlets scattered, spreading, feathery. 



Joints marked with two broad upright lines (internal tubes seen through). 

 Internal Tubes. Four. 

 Measurement. From 6 to 10 inches long. 



Fructification. Of two kinds. 1. Clustered spores in capsules; external. Capsules 

 generally stalked, ovate, with a protruding mouth (urceolate). 2. Tetraspores 

 immersed in the middle part of the last branchlets. 



Habitat. Our coasts generally. On rocks, &c., near low-water mark. Not so common 

 as JP. urceolata. 



Perhaps only a delicate and elegant variety of P. urceolata, but so flaccid that 

 it is best laid out in sea-water. 



Fig. 111. POLYSIPHONIA OBSCUEA. 



Colour. Dark brown-red; nearly black in drying. 

 Substance. Soft. 



Character of Frond. Densely matted patches of short, very slender, jointed threads 

 {filaments); creeping on the surface of rocks; attached by minute fibres which 

 issue from the lower surface; throwing up from the upper erect or curved, 

 simple branches; which are either naked or furnished with a few branchlets on 

 one side {secund). Joints marked with many upright lines (internal tubes 

 seen through). 



Internal Tubes. Twelve or thirteen. 



Measurement. Upright branches from ^ to ^ an inch long. Patches from 6 inches 

 to 1 foot in extent. 



Fructification. Only one kind found. Tetraspores immersed in swollen branchlets, 

 Hahitat. Jersey and Sidnaouth. On rocks at half-tide level. Sometimes parasitic 

 on algjE; covering the roots of Fuci. 



Fig. 112. POLYSIPHONIA PULVINATA. 



Colour. Dull, broAvnish-red, or purphsh; not much darker in drying. 



Substance. Very soft and flaccid; soon decomposing in fresh water. 



Character of Frond. Short, dense, intricate tufts of jointed threads {filaments) ; 

 rising from a mass of creeping fibres. Filaments closely interwoven; very 

 slender; wavy; sparingly and irregularly branched, in a forked manner {dicho- 

 tomouslf) ; more or less furnished with small, spreading, or back-curved 

 {re-curved) simple branchlets. Joints marked with two upright lines (internal 

 tubes). 



Internal Tubes. Four. 



Measurement. About an inch in height. 



Fructification. Of two kinds. 1. Clustered spores in very large, ovate, stalked 

 capsules, with a protruding mouth {ttrceolate) ; external. 2. Tetraspores 

 immersed in swollen branchlets. 



Habitat. Our coasts generally. On rocks and algse between tide-marks. Not un- 

 common. 



This looks like a miniature P. urceolata, but its substance is extremely flaccid. 

 It should be laid out in sea-water. 



50 



