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ner, of ivhicli a bad figure is given in the Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles.
The frond in that species, is compressed, dilatated at the
axils, and towards the upper part becomes flat. Mr Turners variety
J, a native of the Mediterranean, and six feet in length, is also
leferred by Agardh to his Codium elongatum, with which it hardly
seems to accord.
.‘•■'onie individuals have regarded both this and the following species
as belonging to the animal kingdom ; and, if I mistake not, they are
still so considered by a few naturalists. By early writers they were
denominated Sponges. Their vegetable nature, however, seems now
to be admitted as unquestionable hy all who have made the Algoe their
peculiar study.
Codium tomentosum is found in many parts of the world : it is common
on the shores of the Mediterranean, and at the Cape of Good Hope;
it occurs also in the Pacific Ocean, ft-om the north-west coast of America’
to tlie western shores of New Holland.
2. C o d iu m B u r sa .
Frond spherical hollow.
Codium. Bursu, Ag . S p . A lg . V. I . p . 457. S y s t. A lg . p . 178. S p r e n g . S p . P I , v. 4. p 3(iS
Spongodium Bursu, L am o u r . E s s a i, p . 73. G a ill. D ie t. S c . N a t . v . 53 p 37(;
Lamarkia Bursa, O liv i Z o o l. A d r ia t . p . 258.
Agardhia Bursa, C a b r e r a , a c c o rd in g t o A g a rd h .
Fucus Bursa, T u r n . H i s t . F u c . t . 136. S m . E n g . B o t. t. 2183.
Alcyonidium Bursa, L in n . S y s t. N a t . p . 1295.
H a b . On rocks in the sea. Perennial ? Summer. “ Coast of Sussex,
plentifulljr, Pallas" (Turner). Shores of Cornwall, Mr Rashleigh.
Near Torquay, Devonshire, Mrs Griffiths. Near Belfast, Mr Templeton.
Root apparently none. Frond a globular, spongy, hollow ball, one
to eight inches in diameter, composed interiorly of a spongy network
of interwoven filaments, fi-om which arise parallel, club-shaped,
crowded filaments, radiating towards the circumference, and by their
extremities forming the outer surface of the ball or frond. Substance
soft and spongy. Colour a deep grass green, changing in decay to a
brownish-white.
Ih e fructification of this extraordinary plant has not been observed.
It is very rare, and seems to be confined to the south-western shores
of the Island. Both this and the last species imbibe water like a
sponge, and are to a certain degree elastic, in consequence of being
formed of myriads of inflated tubular filaments.
G e n u s LII. BRYOPSIS, Lainour. Tab. XIX.
G e n . C h a r . Frond membranaceous, filiform, tubnlar, cylindrical,
glistening, branched, tlic branches imbricated, or
distichous aud pinnated, filled witb a fine green, minutely
granuliferous fluid.
O bs. One of the most beautiful genera of the Marine Flora, and so
perfectly natural, that it is most difficult to define the species. The
substance of the frond is delicately thin and pellucid, and quite hyaline
after the escape of the fluid colouring matter that fills the tube.
The fructification is unknown, but, from analogy, we should expect to
find it developed externally. When dried upon paper, it has a shining-
glistening appearance as if varnished. Bryopsis Rosa, the most charming
of the whole—a native of the Malouine or Falkland Islands, is
twelve inches in length, and compared by Bory de St. Vincent to an
Italian Poplar in miniature. The generic name is compounded from
two Greek words, and expresses the resemblance which the species
bear to some kinds of Feather-Moss.
1. B r y o p s i s p l u m o s a . Tab. XIX.
Frond iiliform the branches scattered, spreading, once twice or thrice
pinnated, the pinnæ approximated pectinate.
Bryopsis plumosa, A g . S p . A lg . v . 1. p . 448. S y s t. A lg . p . 178. G r e v . F l . E d in . p . 307-
Bryopsis Lyngbyei, F I . D a n . t . 1063. L y n g b . H y d r o p h . D a n . p . 75. t . 19. S p r e n g . S p.
P I . V. 4. p. 365.
Bryopsis composita, A g . S p . A lg . v . I . p . 451. S y s t. A lg . p . 179.
Viva plumosa, H u d s . F l . A n g l. p . 571- S m . E n g . B o t. t . 2375.
H a b . On rocks and stones in the sea. Annual. Summer and
autumn. On the coast of Devonshire at Fxmouth, Hudson. Ilfracombe,
Dillwyn. Coast of Anglesea, Rev. H. Davies. Shore at
Yarmouth, Mr Wigg. In little rocky pools filled daily by the tide,
at Cromer, Mr Woodward. Brighton, Mr Borrer. At Joppa in the
Frith of Forth, Dr Richardson. Coast of Appin, Captain Carmichael.
Root composed of a few interwoven filaments. Frond one to three
inches in length or more, the main stem scarcely half a line in thickness,
mostly undivided, and generally naked towards the base, beset
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