CRYPTOGAMIA. ALGJ3. Conferva 
115 
(Pu rple Long-branched Laver. E.) Rocks and stones in the sea. Near 
Christ-church, Hampshire. A. April—Sept. 
U. verticilla'ta. Stem and primary branches of equal thickness, 
broadest at the origin of the branches : ultimate branches very 
numerous, of equal thickness, filled with close-set whirls of 
fructifications. 
(E. But. 2466. E.) 
So very slippery that when first taken up it glides through the fingers. 
This non-descript Ulva was sent me by Major Velley, with the following 
description. It is a large plant; the lower part of the main stem con¬ 
sists of a lubricous skin, which in the secondary branches becomes gra¬ 
dually finer till those branches terminate in minute ramifications com¬ 
posed of granulated vessels pointing two ways. It is not improbable that 
the globules in these branches may be the source of proliferous vegeta¬ 
tion, for numerous slender shoots may be observed to pullulate from 
them. Major Velley. The fructifications are more regularly disposed 
than is usual in this genus, and its fine branches and pink colour give it 
the appearance of Conferva corallina. 
(Lubricous Verticillate Laver. E.) Sea coast. (On the beach at 
Brighthelmstone. Mr. W. Borrcr. E.) 
CONFER'VA.* * Fibres hair-like; uniform or jointed s 
branched or unbranched: containing 
globular granules. 
(Or, Seeds produced within the substance 
of the capillary or jointed frond, or in 
closed tubercles united with it. Dillwyn, 
and E. Bot. E.) 
(1) Threads unbranched, equal, without joints. 
C. rivula'ris. Threads very long; (dark green; thickly compacted 
together ; joints short. Dillw. 
Dillw. 4— E. Bot. 1654. E.)— Dill. 2. I—-Mich. 89. 7— Lob. Obs. 654. 1. 
Ger. Em. 1570. 11— Park. 1261. 2. 
Entirely formed of threads, from one to two cubits or more in length, ex¬ 
tremely slender, floating, not branched, green, shining like silk. Dill. 12. 
(Long River Conferva. E.j Crow-silk . Slowly flowing brooks and rivers. 
P. Jan.—Dee.t 
Var. 2. Shorter and thicker. 
Dill 2.2— Mich. 89. 6. 
Wide spreading, one to two feet long : thick as a hair, rarely matted, pale 
green, shining. Dill. 13. 
In ditches, in fields near Mitcham, Surrey. Dill. 
* (From conferveo , to knit closely together ; probably from the habit of the plants; 
possibly from their supposed tendency to unite fractures. E.) Several species appear to 
float in water without any point of attachment. After being dried they will revive by 
immersion in water, but, from their jointed structure, the liquid is not imbibed beyond 
the portion immersed. E.) 
*f* (It adheres firmly either to glass or paper. The ancients attributed to it the power 
of uniting fractured bones, by binding it on the fracture, and keeping it constantly 
moistened with waiter. Plin. Hist. Nat, Dillwyn. E.) 
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