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Little use is made of L. saccharina in this country, except in the
way of manure, when mixed with other kinds of sea-weed. What
Lightfoot says regarding its consumption as an article of food by the
lower classes in England, is justly referred by Mr Neill to Rhodomenia
palmata. The saccharine fucus referred to by Anderson as eaten by
the Icelanders, would also appear, according to Wahlenberg and Dr
Hooker, to be tbe same plant. Bishop Gunner mentions that in Norway
it is eaten by cattle ; but Wahlenberg, on the other hand, says
that cattle will not touch it, and that the common name of it in Nordland
is Troll-tare, which signifies that it is fit only for the Sea Devil.
It is the Sea-helt of the English. The white efflorescence which appears
upon the surface of this, and many other Algse, after having
been dried, is nothing but common salt : it leaves, however, a sweetish
impression upon the palate, and hence the specific name.
5. L a m in a r i a p h y l l i t i s .
Stem cylindrical-compressed passing into a thin membranaceous
lanceolate or linear-lanceolate frond.
Laminaria phyllitis, L am o u r . E s s a i, p . 22. L y n g b . H y d r o p h . D a n . p . 23. Ag . S p . Alg.
V. 1. p . 121. S y s t. A!g. p . 273. S p r e n g . S p . P I . v . 4. p . 325.
Laminaria saccharina v a r . attenuata, G r e v . F I. E d in . p . 282.
Fucus phyllitis, S t a c k h . N e r . B r i t . t . 9. T u r n . S y n . F u c . p . 193. H i s t . F u c . 1 . 164. Sm .
E n g . B o t. 1. 1331.
H ab . In the sea, growing upon stones or the stems of the larger
Algæ. Biennial? Plentiful at Portlandhead, and at Tenby, Stackhouse.
Coast of Dorsetshire, Pulteney. Sidmouth and Torquay, Mrs
Griffiths. Yarmouth, Mr Wigg. East Bourne, Sussex, Mr Borrer.
Larne, near Belfast, Mr Templeton. Bantry Bay, Miss Hutchins.
Frith of Forth. Staffa.
Root composed of thick, fieshy, branched, clasping fibres. Stem
half an inch to two inches in length, from the thickness of a stout
bristle to that of a crow-quill, cylindrical at the base, compressed upwards,
and then gradually expanding into a lanceolate or linear-
lanceolate frond, eight inches to three or more feet in length, and one
to six inches in width, slightly waved at the margin. Substance thin,
membranous, and transparent, particularly delicate in young plants,
somewhat lubricous, and partly adhering to paper in drying. Colour
pale yellowish green, or very pale greenish brown, with a reddish tinge
in old plants.
I cannot but express some doubt regarding the claim of this beautiful
Alga to be considered as distinct from the preceding species. The
more I have studied it in a growing state, the less am I tempted to
speak positively on the subject. Upon the whole, however, I am
rather inclined to think it a true species. Having traced it from its
earliest appearance to its full size, I can testify that its characters are
preserved in every stage. In my herbarium are specimens four feet
in length, and certainly far more delicate than any I ever saw of
L. saccharina. The frond is always of a very pale colour, transparent,
and in many hundred individuals I have had occasion to examine
invariably lanceolate at the base. The fructification remains to be
discovered.
6. L a m in a r ia d e b i l i s . Tab. V.
Stem very short setaceous expanding into a membranaceous oblongwedgeshaped
frond.
Laminaria debilis, Ag. S p . A lg . v . 1. p . 120. S y s t. A lg . p . 273. G r e v . C r y p t . F I . t . 277.
Laminaria papyrina, B o ry in D ie t. C la s s . d 'H i s t . N a t . v . 9. p . 189.
H a b . In the sea. Annual? On the coasts of the Western Islands
of Scotland, Mr Chalmers.
Root minute, scarcely developed into fibres. Fronds tufted, two to
ten inches in height, one to three inches or more in width, obtuse, between
obovate and wedge-shaped, rarely somewhat linear or linear-
oblong, suddenly attenuated below into a very slender stem, only two
or three lines in height. Substance thin, membranous, somewhat
transparent, and rather flaccid. Colour olivaceous green. It adheres
to paper when young and lubricous, but not when old.
Sprengel has not admitted this plant as a species into his Species
Plantarum, but refers it as a synonym to Zonaria plantaginea of
Agardh, the Punctaria plantaginea of this Work. It is nevertheless
not only perfectly distinct, but has no affinity whatever with the genus
Punctaria.