Fig. 286. BRYOPSIS PLUMOSA. 
Colour. A fine, deep, glossy green ; stems especially glistening when dried and partly emptied 
of colouring matter. 
Substance. Membranaceous, but firm ; slippery. 
Character of Frond. Thread -shaped {filiform) ; uninterruptedly tubular throughout ; filled 
with green colouring matter ; much branched. Stems sometimes undivided, and set 
with numerous close branches ; sometimes irregularly forked. Branches naked below ; 
above, closely plumed like a feather, with short, slender, nearly opposite branchlets ; 
these sometimes re-branchleted with a smaller set (branchletee^zs) ; the lower branch- 
lets longest ; upper, short ; producing a lanceolate outline of branch. The whole at 
one level, or rarely otherwise. 
Measurement. From 1 to 4 inches long. 
Fructification. Minute seeds {zoospores ; so called from having at one period a motion as if 
endowed with animal life) ; formed in the colouring matter of the frond. 
Habitat. Our coasts generally. On rocks near low-water mark. Not uncommon. 
Dr. Harvey describes it as “ a plant whose branches resemble beautiful, glossy, bright- 
green feathers.” It is well grown in Filey Bay on a flat ledge of rocks leading to “ The 
Spittals,” only uncovered at very low tides. In an Aquarium it sometimes degenerates into 
a very ugly, unplumose variety ; the B. Lamorovxii of some authors. 
Fig. 287. BRYOPSIS HYPNOIDES. 
Colour. A fine yellowish green ; stems especially glistening when dried and partly emptied 
of colouring matter. 
Substance. Membranaceous, but firm ; slippery. 
Character of Frond. Thread-shaped (filiform) ; uninterruptedly tubular throughout ; filled 
with green colouring matter very much branched. Stems undivided or irregularly 
forked ; furnished with long, alternate, re-branched or irregularly-divided branches ; 
the lesser ones set with long, slender branchlets ; more or less crowded with hranch- 
\o,ieens towards their tips. Branchletee?7S springing from all sides. 
Measurement. From 2 to 4 inches long. 
Fructification. Minute seeds {zoospores ; so called from having at one period a motion as if 
endowed with animal life) ; formed in the colouring matter of the frond. 
Habitat. The warmer stations of our coasts. South of England. West of Ireland, &c. On 
rocks and the large algae, especially Laminaria saccharma, at extreme low-water mark 
and beyond. Bare generally. 
A slenderer, lighter coloured, and more compoundly-brancbed plant than B.plrmosa ; but 
intermediate specimens occur. 
Vi 
122 
