Plate XXVII. 



Fig. 119. POLYSIPIiONIA VIOL ACE A. 



Colour. Brownish-red or purple. 



Suhstance. Tender; gelatinous; soon decomposing in fresh water. 



Character of Frond. Thread-like {filamentous), solitary, or tufted; jointed; very much 

 branched. Principal stem sometimes rather robust; sometimes much more slender 

 than a hog's bristle; set throughout with long, irregularly alternate, four-spread 

 {^uadrifarious) branches, of unequal length, but gradually diminishing upwards. 

 Branches re-branched in a similar way with two, three, and even four sets; 

 these gradually lessening in diameter and length; so that the plant has a re- 

 markably feathery or fmely bushed character. The last branchiets exceedingly 

 slender, and, when young, tipped with fibres. Joints of the stems indistinct; 

 of the branchiets obvious, with two or three upright lines (internal tubes). 



Internal Tubes. Four. 



2Leasurement. From 6 to 8 inches long. 



'Fructification. Of two kinds. 1. Clustered spores in ovate, stalkless, or shortly-stalked, 

 capsules; external. 2. Tetraspores, large; immersed in the swollen branchiets. 



Habitat. Our coasts generally. On rocks, stones, and lesser algse near low-water 

 mark. Not uncommon. 



Rather like P. fibrata, but a larger and more luxuriant plant, and not ob- 

 viously jointed throughout. The cobweb-like last set of branches are sometimes 

 a beautiful violet colour, especially when dried. It is best to lay out this plant 

 in sea-water. 



Fig. 120. POLYSIPHONIA BRODI^I. 



Colour. A dark brownish-purple or red. 



Substance. Gelatinous; instantly beginning to decompose if immersed in fresh water, 

 and giving out a disagreeable smell. 



Character of Frond. Long tufts of jointed threads (^filaments), mnoh. branched. 

 Stems robust, elastic, undivided, opaque. Branches numerous, alternate, rod- 

 like; clothed with short, soft, repeatedly-divided, tuft-like branchiets, from half 

 an inch to an inch long. Branching always alternate. Joints not visible in 

 the stems and branches; obvious in the branchiets, which are marked with 

 three or four upright lines (internal tubes). 



Internal Tubes. About seven. 



Measurement. From 6 to 14 inches long. 



Fructification. Of two kinds. 1. Clustered spores in ovate capsules, slightly stalked; 

 external. 2. Tetraspores immersed in the swollen tips of the finer branchiets. 



Habitat. Our shores generally. On rocks and corallines near low-water mark. Not 

 uncommon. 



This beautiful PolysipJwnia should always be laid out in sea-water. The first 

 touch of fresh water destroys something of its beauty, by causing the tips of 

 the delicate, tuft-likc branchiets to decompose and break off. 



