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two to three feet long, beautifully delicate and feathery, less than a
crow-quill in thickness at the base, becoming gradually attenuated,
pinnated with branches a few lines apart, along its whole length, and
similar in all respects, one to many inches in length; the main
branches are again indefinitely pinnate, every division more slender
than the preceding one, but the whole of them capillary, and every
branch and branchlet opposite. The aspect of the whole plant is that
of a robust and bushy Conferva.
Substance cartilaginous, and rather rigid to the touch, becoming
flaccid on exposure to the air. Colour olivaceous when growing,
changing to verdigris-green when removed from the water, and when
dry, resuming its olive-green or brown colour. In drying it does not
adhere very firmly to paper.
I know not how it has happened that the species before us is generally
described of an orange colour in its growing state. Turner mentions
that Sir Thomas Frankland, who introduced it to the British
Flora, knew it under the name of Conferva auricoma. It therefore
seems certain that it occasionally assumes an orange hue. Dr Drummond
informs me, that near Belfast, it is of a “ foxy colour” when
growing. Opposite Seafield rocks, it grows plentifully, and, at low
tides, may be reached by wading into the water. Here I have had
frequent opportunities of seeing it growing in abundance, and have ever
found it of a dull olive-green colour; in age more or less reddish or
brownish. Its appearance is very delicate and beautiful. No pencillike
tufts of filaments have been observed upon this plant.
G e n u s XI. SPOROCHNUS, Ag. Tab. VI.
G e n . Ch a r . Frond filiform cylindrical or compressed, car-
tilagino - membranaceous. Fructification, club-sliaped
moniliform filaments, radiating in scattered warts, or
concentrical in distinct (mostly clavate stalked) receptacles,
often terminated by a deciduous tuft of filaments.
O bs. The present genus which Agardh intended to contain both
the preceding ones, has been retained by M. Gaillon for a limited
number of species, agreeing pretty well in habit and the essential character
of the fructification. I approve entirely of this division, but
cannot follow M. Gaillon in placing Desmarestia among the F ucoideæ,
and Sporochus among the F lo r id eæ , by which, genera nearly allied
to each other are widely separated, and inserted among other genera
with which they assimilate in no points of importance. In Lamouroux’s
arrangement, such species as were known to him are found in
the genera Gigartina and Dictyota (the latter on the authority of Gaillon).
S. rhizodes is a Chordaria according to Lyngbye.
It is by no means improbable, that, at some future time, the species
with fructification in the form of naked sessile warts, will form a distinct
genus. The exotic species S. inermis and Cabrera may also be
eventually separated : and perhaps even S. villosus also, when the fructification
shall be discovered.
1. S p o r o c h n u s p e d u n c u l a t u s . Tab. VI.
Frond cylindrical somewhat pinnated in a lax straggling manner,
branches simple long set with stalked linear club-shaped receptacles
which are terminated by a deciduous tuft of confervoid filaments.
Sporochnus pedunculatus, A g . S p . A lg . v . 1. p . 149. S y s t. A lg . p . 269. S p r e n g . S p . P I.
V. 4. p . 329. G a ill. D ie t . S c . N a t . v . 63. p . 36fl.
Gigartina pedunculata, L am o u r . E s s a i, p . 48.
Fucus pedunculatus, H u d s . F I . A n g . p . 587. S m . E n g . B o t. t . 545. T u m . S y n . F u c .
p . 367- H i s t . F u c . t . 188.
H a b . In the sea. Annual. Summer and autumn. Isle of Portland,
Hudson. Anglesea, Rev. H. Davies. Cromer and Sheringham,
Turner. On the beach at Corton and Gunton, Mrs Fowler. Weymouth,
Rev. M. J. Berkeley. Seaton, Mrs Griffiths. Prestonpans, in
the Frith of Forth, Mr Hasell.
Root a small roundish disk. Fronds one to several from the same base,
six to eighteen inches in length, set with setaceous horizontal branches,
several inches long about the centre of the frond, shorter towards the
base and apex. The stem and branches are beset at short intervals,
and on all sides, with the receptacles, which, including their minute
stalk, do not exceed a line on the stem, and are still less on the branches,
the terminating pencil of filaments excessively delicate, and about three
lines in length. Fructification club-shaped filaments, arranged concentrically
round the receptacle, unprotected by any covering, the uppermost
joint of the filaments often swollen and coloured, and probably
deciduous.
Substance cartilaginous in the stem and branches. Colour yellow