I
f'
■-1Hti;’
I Jt-
22 [Lichina,
thing hitiierto observed among the Algce. In regard to habit, the
L ich in e vE touch closely on the bouiidaiy of the Lichens.
One species was described by Lamouroux as a Chondrus: and the
author of the article Lichina iu tlie Dictionaire Classique d’Histoire
Naiurclle, affirms that Gigartina pygmcea of the same botanist is also
Lichina pygmcea or confinis. It is, however, quite impossible that the
figure given by Lamouroux under that name in his Essai, p. 49. t. 4.
f. 12. & 13., can be intended for either.
The generic name expresses the resemblance which both species
bear to some lichens.
1. L ic h in a p y g m t e a . Tab. VI.
Frond between fiat and compressed, the capsules globose.
Lichina pygmcea, Ag. S p . Alg. v. 1. p . 10.5. S y s t. A lg . p . 274. G r e v . FJ. E d in . p . 286.
S p r e n g . S p . P J . v . 4. p . 315.
Chondrus pygmcBus, L am o u r . E s s a i, p . 40.
Fucus pygmceus, L ig h t f . F I. S c o t. p . 964. t. 32. T u r n . S y n , F u c . p . 258. H i s t . F u c .
t . 204. figs. a—h . S m . E n g . B o t. t . 1332.
Fucuspumilus, H u d s . F i. A n g . p . 584.
Fucus lichenoides, G o o d . & W o o dw . i n L in n . T r a n s , v . 3. p . 192.
H a b . Rocks on the sea-shore, nearer to high than low water maik.
Perennial. Autumn. Very abundant on the south-west coast of England.
Frequent on the coast of Cornwall, Stackhouse. Falmouth, Ilfracombe,
and Sidmouth, Turner. Isle of Portland, Goodenough. Wey mouth,
Pulteney. Abundant on the coasts of Pembrokeshire and Gla morganshire,
Dillwyn. Coast of Northumberland, Winch. Bantry
Bay, Miss Hutchins. Orkney, Rev. C. Clouston. Frith of Forth.
Root a disk. Fronds densely tufted, about half au inch in height,
fiat, less than half a line in width, repeatedly divided in an iiTegularly
dichotomous manner, the main hranches often somewhat palmate:
hranches spreading, obtuse at the extremity. Fructification, subglobose,
capsules situate at or near the top, and often clustered together: they
are furnished with an obvious pore, aud contain a colourless gelatinous
mass of fine filaments and lines of oval-oblong pellucid seeds. Substance
cartilaginous. Colour blackish green. When dry it becomes rigid and
deep black.
I believe this plant occurs on almost every part of the British coast;
but as the following species has been more or less confounded with
it, it is impossible to speak with precision regarding it. The present
one is by far the most common of the two, and often covers the
rocks to a very considerable extent. It is also much lai-ger, and has
Lichina.) L IC H IN E iE . 23
less of a crustaceous appearance than the other. Upon the authority
of Bory de St Vincent, M. Durville met with it on the coast of Chili.
The capsules, after having been emptied of their contents, collapse,
and, by the gradual disappearance of the upper part, at length resemble
the old shields of a Lichen.
2. L ic h in a c o n f in is . Tab. VI.
Frond cylindrical, capsules terminal oval.
hichina confinis, Ag . S p . A lg . v . 1. p. 105. S y s t. A lg . p . 274- G r e v . E l. E d in . p . 28.
S p r e n g . S p . P L v . 4. p . 315.
Fucus pygmceus, v a r . minor, T u r n . H is t. F u c . t . 204. f. i—o.
Lichen confinis, A c h . P r o d r . L ic h . p . 208. Sm . E n g . B o t. t. 2575.
H a b . On marine rocks very near high water mark. Perennial.
Autumn. Bantry Bay, Miss Hutchins. Dunbar, Turner. Rocks
opposite Caroline Park, near Edinburgh.
Root a minute disk. Fronds densely tufted, two or three lines in
height, spreading in a concentrical manner, and covering the rocks
like a lichen; cylindrical, irregularly branched, the branches erect, obtuse
at the apex. Capsules oval, terminal, furnished with a pore, and
filled with a gelatinous mass of fine filaments, among which the oval
colourless seeds are arranged in radiating lines. After the contents of
the capsule have escaped, the orifice enlarges, as in L . pygmtea, and
at length becomes a mere concave empty disk. Substance cartilaginous.
Colour blackish green. In drying it becomes rigid and quite
black.
It cannot be considered as sui'prising that this minute plant should
have been described as a lichen in the Flora Danica, English Botany,
and the works of Acharius. At a little distance, it is not to be distinguished
from some species of Collema, and the mode of growth
tends still farther to deceive the eye; for the centre of the tuft dies
away, leaving the circumference entire, which continues to enlarge itself
in a concentrical manner. The structure of the fi'ond is in every
respect similar to that of the preceding species.