îm i
i l "
to an inch or more long, and these also sometimes bear minute scattered
spines : not unfrequently the ramuli ai-e partly secund, and, as
well as the branches, curved inward at the apex, especially in the
barren state. Fructification, spherical sessile capsules about half the
size of turnip-seed, scattered upon the ramuli, containing a mass of
minute ovate or oblong seeds. Substance cartilaginous. Colour dull
purple-red. In drying it becomes darker, and adheres very imperfectly
to paper.
In the Historia Fucorum and “ English Botany” this species was
figured from British, but sterile specimens ; and the plant was so rare,
that a doubt is expressed in the former work, whether it ought to be
regarded as really a native of our shores. Under such circumstances,
it is with great pleasure that I find myself enabled to describe it from
individuals, found growing in several parts of Devonshire : and to add
that fructification was detected in the most pajfect state, neai’ Torquay
in January 1829, by the indefatigable Mrs Griffiths. The species is
variable in its habit of growth : the sterile fronds communicated to me
from Sidmouth by Miss Cutler and Mrs Griffiths, are robust, compared
with the fertile ones, leSs, and more simply brancbed, of a
paler colour, the branches with a tendency to throw out radicles or
attachments, and to extend themselves by creeping. The extremities
are also often more or less involute. In the Ilfracombe specimens, the
frond is only once or twice divided, and the upper part of the stem
and branches more or less closely pinnated with subulate horizontal
ramuli, one or two lines in length. The structure of the frond consists
of a beautiful cellular tissue, most lax in the centre, and apparently
almost filamentous when removed, as represented in Mr Dawson
Turner’s figure : strictly speaking, however, this appearance is a deception,
and arises from the lax nature and elongated form of the cellules.
G. acicularis is most nearly related to the preceding species, and in
the capsule (the outer substance of which is transparent) the seeds
have a disposition to form themselves into groups ; at least, they are
not equally distributed in the space they occupy.
3 . G ig a r t in a G r i f f i t h s iæ .
Frond between horny and cartilaginous cylindrical filiform dichotomous
fastigiate, fructification in the form of oblong warts (nemathecia)
surrounding the stem.
Spîioerocovciis Grifiithsioe, Ag, S p . A lg . v . 1, p . 316. S y s t. A lg . p . 235.
V. 4. p . 339.
Polyides Griffithsioe, G a ill. D ie t . S c . N a t . v . 53. p . 365.
Fucus Gi'ffithsioe, T u r n . H is t. F u c . t . 37- S m . E n g . B o t. t. 1926.
S p r e n g . S p . P I .
H a b . On rocks in the sea- Perennial. A u tum n and winter. On
the rocks opposite Sidmouth, in a little channel formed by sea-water,
as it runs off during ebb-tide : also at Paignton rocks, and Tor-Abbey
rocks, Mrs Griffiths- Fxmouth, Miss Filmore, Rev. J. Jervis. Bal-
briggen, near Dublin, Dr Scott.
Root minutely scutate. Fronds tufted, entangled, one to three
inches high, cylindrical, filiform, about as thick as a hog’s bristle, many
times divided in a dichotomous manner, the branches divaricated at
their axils, mostly of equal height and fastigiate, the apices rather obtuse,
sometimes compressed or flattened, and occasionally reflexed.
Fructification unknown, except in the form of nemathecia, producing
oblong warts, which creep, as it were, round the stem and branches,
composed of beautiful, parallel, articulated, moniliform filaments, attenuated
at each extremity. Substance cartilaginous, or slightly horny,
tough and flexible. Colour dark, bluish or blackish purple. In drying
it becomes still darker, and does not adhere to paper.
Ignorant as we are of the perfect fructification of this plant, I conceive
that sufficient characters remain to distinguish it from all other
species ; and therefore dissent from my friend and correspondent. Professor
Agardh, who considers it as a state of Gigartina acicularis.*
In regard to Fucus ustulatus of Mertens’ MSS., which he also believes
to be a variety of G. acicularis, he is probably correct, as Mr Dawson
Turner is of the same opinion. It would also seem that some of these
plants are not generally perfectly understood on the Continent, as a
specimen communicated to me by Agardh, from Italy, under the name
of Sphcerococcus acicidaris, is certainly one of the endless varieties of
Gelidium corneum. At the same time, the specimens of Gigartina
Griffithsioe, which he gathered at Venice, and had the kindness to send
me, are the true plant.
* A u f z a h lu n g e in ig e r in d e n o s t r e ic h i s d ie n L a n d e m g e fu n d c n e n n e u e n G a t tu n g e n u n d A j tc n
v o n A lg e n , n e b s t i b r c r D ia g n o s t ik m id b c ig e f u g te n B em e rk u n g e n v o n C. A . A g a rd h .