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the changeable nature of the plant. At the same time, the practical botanist
will rarely be deceived by any of its forms. The size of the
capsules is usually smaller than that of turnip-seed, but on dwarf plants
they are sometimes not larger than poppy-seed.
Several more varieties are enumerated by authors, some of which
occur on our own shores, but they appear to me to be hardly worthy
of being so distinguished. Variety 5, Mr Turner has justly remarked,
resembles a lusus naturæ rather than a variety. The impression it
conveys to the mind is that of distortion. It is found, however, also
on the Continent, and has been communicated to me from the French
coast, by my friend M. Chauvin.
A white wart-like excrescence, sometimes as large as the capsules,
is occasionally found on this species, and is regularly organized. In
the centre are ovate colourless granules, resembling the seeds.
3. G r a c i l a r ia e r e c t a . Tab. XIV.
Fi-ond cylindrical dichotomous erect, branches subsimple, capsules
globose, granules in terminal pod-like ramuli.
SphmrocQccus? erectus, G r e v . C r y p t . F I. v . 6 . t . 357.
H a b . On rocks in the sea. Perennial. February and March.
Tor-Abbey, Meadfoot, and Waldon rocks in Torbay, and at Sidmouth,
Mrs Griffiths.
Root a thin flat broad disk. Fronds many from the same base,
about two inches high, erect, cartilaginous, hardly thicker than a stout
bristle, twice or thrice dichotomous, the branches nearly erect, somewhat
acute. Fructification : I. sessile spherical capsules, the size of
poppy-seed, aggregated towards the ends of the branches, and containing
a globular mass of ovate-oblong seeds ; 2. oblong red granules imbedded
in terminal pod-like pale lanceolate receptacles, three or four
lines in length.
Substance cartilaginous, gelatinous in the pod-like receptacles.
Colour pale red. In drying it does not adhere to paper.
At first sight this little plant might be taken for one of the numerous
varieties of the preceding species ; but it is in reality well distinguished
by the fructification, which is only to be found in February
and March. There is something very peculiar in its mode of growth,
and after.the lanceolate deciduous réceptacles have fallen ofij the
branches all appear truncated. It is invariably found growing on the
nearly level bottom of shallow pools left by the recess of the tide, and
generally half immersed in sand. I had an opportunity at Sidmouth
of tracing the fructification to maturity.
4. G r a c i l a r ia c o m p r e s s a .
Frond cartilaginous brittle between cylindrical and compressed
dichotomous, branches subdistichous spreading lax gradually attenuated
to a subulate point.
Sphcerococcus compressus, A g . S p . Alg. v . 1. p . 308. S y s t. A lg . p . 233. S p r e n g . S p . P I . v . 4.
p . 338.
Sphoerococcus lichenoides, G r e v . C r y p t . F I . v . 6. t . 341.
H a b . In the sea. Annual. August. Sidmouth, Mrs Griffiths.
Root a small disk. Fronds aggregated, six to twelve inches or
more in length, fi-om a crow-quill to nearly a common quill in thickness,
attenuated at the base and apex, divided from the base in a manner
between dichotomous and pinnated, the main branches long, lax,
patent, mostly somewhat curved, gradually tapering to a subulate point,
set with others one or two inches in length, alternate, rather distant,
often partially secund, attenuated like the rest : all the branches are
distichous, and there are rarely more than three series, though I have
seen four and even five. Fructification : 1. sessile globoso-hemisphe-
rical capsules, with a prominent orifice, as large as turnip-seed, containing
oblong seeds, and situated on every part of the frond : 2. ovate
reddish granules imbedded in the branches on distinct plants.
Substance between cartilaginous and gelatinous, succulent, fragile,
adhering pretty closely to paper in drying. Colour a transparent dull
red.
A very fine Alga, discovered by Mrs Griffiths in Devonshire, as
long ago as 1813. From specimens which she collected more recently,
and observations which accompanied them, I was induced to coincide
with, her in believing it to be the Fucus lichenoides of Linnæus and
Turner’s Historia Fucorum, and published it under that name in my
Cryptogamic Flora. We have, however, committed an en-or, for authentic
specimens subsequently received from Agardh of his Sphcerococcus
compressus, do not in any respect differ from our plant. The two species
approach exceedingly near to each other, and except in its faded
colour, Mr Turner’s figure (a) might almost have been drawn from
some of the Devonshire specimens. The structure of the frond is the
same in both, being cellular, and faintly reticulated on the surfaoe.