whole plant becomes white. The capsules are usually placed at the
ends of the ramuli, which they render turgid.
The inliabitants of many countries bordering the Indian Ocean,
make use of algoe belonging to this genus, to render more palatable
their hot and biting condiments, and from some species are constructed
the celebrated edible swallow’s nests of the Chinese.
Two species referred by Algologists to this group, Fucus coronopifolius
of Linnæus, and F. crinitis of Gmelin, I have separated, as
they differ in many respects very materially.
1. G e l id iu m c a r t il a g in e u m .
Frond several times pinnated the pinnæ horizontal alternate, capsules
elliptical mucronate terminating the smaller pinnulæ.
Gelidium concatenatum, L am o u r . E s s a i, p . 41.
Gelidium versicolor, L am o u r . E s s a i, p , 41.
Sphoerococcus cartilagineus, A g . S p . A lg . v . 1. p . 286. S y s t . A lg . p . 227. S p r e n g . S p .
P l . , v . 4 . p . 338.
Fucus cartilagineus, L in n . S p . P I . v . 2. p . 30. T u r n . S y n . F u c . p . 284. H i s t . F u c . 1 . 124.
S m . E n g . B o t. t . 1477.
H a b . On rocks in the sea. Perennial. Fresh water Bay in the
Isle of Wight, Dr Withering. *
Root composed of a mass of creeping fibres. Fronds numerous,
linear, compressed, eight to twenty inches in height, rising with a stem,
which is usually naked for two or three inches, and then either continued
simple, or divided into two or more branches, pinnated alternately, and
at short intervals : pinnæ nearly horizontal, very unequal in length,
some scarcely one inch, others several inches long, resembling the
stem, scarcely a line broad, set with pinnulæ scarcely an inch in
length, which, in their turn, produce a third, and even fourth series,
each narrower and smaller than the preceding one, the last scarcely a
line long, and not a line apart, all terminating obtusely. Fructification
: I. ovate-elliptical capsules, or rather, spherical capsules imbedded
in the ultimate ramuli, and rendering them turgid and elliptical, and
containing a mass of free minute ovate seeds : 2. compound granules
surrounded with a pellucid border, and Imbedded in the ultimate
ramuli on distinct individuals. Substance cartilaginous, thick and
tough. Colour a fine red, soon changing on exposure to the air, and
passing through purple, orange, yellow, and “ light green,” to white.
It is exceedingly doubtful whether this fine species really vegetates
upon our coast. I am not awaie of its having been obtained by any
person except Dr Withering, and he does not inform us whether it
was found growing or cast’on shore. That it was the true plant there
can be no question, as Mr Dawson Turner saw the specimens communicated
by Dr Withering to Mr Woodward. There is at the same
time every reason to conclude, in tlie absence of positive evidence, that
it is only wafted from warmer regions, a supposition which its excessive
rarity contributes to support. Bishop Gunner was certainly deceived
if he imagined the coast of Finmark was a station for it ; the
alga might easily have been washed ashore along with the cocoa-nuts
and other exotic productions, which occasionally reach the western
coasts of Ireland, Scotland, and Norway. It is singular that Mr
Dawson Turner, who admitted it as an unquestionable native in his
Synopsis Fucorum, should omit the British station in his Historia
Fucorum, and by some oversight fail to allude to it in any way as a
British plant. Upon the whole, I consider its claim to be admitted
into this work no stronger than that of Sargassum milgare and
bacciferum.
The mode of growth, and the colours of this species are so beautiful,
that it is often brought, under various ornamental forms, from the
Cape of Good Hope, where it occurs in greater abundance than in any
other part of the world.
2. G e l id iu m c o r n e u m . Tab. XV.
Frond between cartilaginous and corneous plane-compressed distichously
branched, branches pinnate or bipinnate, pinnæ spreading or
horizontal obtuse, capsules spherical immersed in the extremities of
the ramuli.
Gelidium corneum, L am o u r . E s s a i, p . 41.
Sphoerococcus comeus, Ag . S p . A lg . v . 1. p . 279. S y s t . A lg . p . 225. G r e v . F I . E d in . p . 296.
S p r e n g . S p . P I . v . 4. p . 337*
Fucus corneus, H u d s . F I . A n g l. p . 585. S t a c k h . N e r . B r i t . p . 6 1 . 1 . 12. T u m . S y n . F u c .
p . 272. H i s t . F u c . t . 257. S m . E n g . B o t. t . 1970.
H a b . On rocks in the sea, generally at the margin of the pools and
cavities left by the tide, but always filled with water. Perennial. Summer.
On most of the rocky coasts of Great Britain and Ireland.
Root scutate, but always accompanied with creeping fibres. Fronds
much tufted, of a firm substance, varying from cartilaginous to horny ;
and, in regard to colour, from a deep blackish pm-ple to fine deep red,
pink, and even pinkish amber colour. Fructification; I. spherical