Fig. 62. ELACHISTA FLACCIDA. 
Colour. Dull olive-brown. 
Substance. Soft ; membranaceous. 
Character of Frond. A small, dense tuft (rising from a tubercle) ; parasitic on Cystoseira 
fibrosa. Threads of tbe tuft simple ; tapering to the base ; jointed. 
Measurement. Half an inch long. 
Fructification. Minute seeds {spores) eoncealed in the substance of the tubercle. 
Habitat. Our coasts generally. On Cystoseira fibrosa^ common. 
Fig. 63. ELACHISTA CURTA. 
Colour. Pale olive. 
Substance. Eather 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 to J of an inch long. 
Fructification. Minute seeds {spores) coneealed in the substance of the tubercle. 
Habitat. 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. 
Substaiice. 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 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. Griffiths discovered it at 
Torquay a few years ago. Unless closely examined under the microscope, it may he mistaken 
for the fruit of Dictyota dichotoma. Dr. Harvey describes the tufts as resemhhng “ minute 
stars, or Echini.” It well deserves further search. 
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