1. ASPEROCOCCUS ECHINATUS. Tub. IX.
Frond cylindrical, filiform.
Aspcrococcus rugosus, L am o u r . E s s a i, p . 62.
Encoelium echinatum, A g . S p . A lg . v . 1. p . 145. S y s t. A lg . p . 261. S p r e n g . S p . P I . v . 4 .
p . 328.
Encoelium Lyngbyanum, G r e v . C r y p t . F I . t . 290.
Scytosiphon Jistulosus, L y n g b . H y d r o p h . D a n . p . 66.
Scytosiphori Filum v . Jistulosus, A g . S p . A lg . v . 1. p . 163. S y s t . A lg . p . 258.
Ulva Jistulosa, H u d s . F I . A n g . p . 569. S m . E n g . B o t. t . 642. a b a d fig u r e .
H a b . Rocks and stones in the sea. Annual. Summer and autumn.
Very common on many parts of the British coast. Devonshire, Mrs
Griffiths. Near Belfast, Dr Drummond. West coast of Scotland,
Captain Carmichael. Frith of Forth.
Root a minute disk. Fronds several from the same base, two
inches to two feet in length, one to three or four lines in diameter,
much attenuated towards the base, and sometimes attenuated upwards,
but more frequently incrassated, hollow, and when mature dotted over
the whole surface with the fructification. Fructification yellowish,
imbedded seeds, mixed with very minute, linear, obtuse, short, articulated
filaments, incrassated at the apex ; pellucid below, but containing
in the terminal joints an opake black mass ; all fixed by the base,
crowded and erect.
Substance membranaceous, reticulated, adhering imperfectly to paper
in drying. Colour olive or brownish green, not changing on exposure
to air.
This plant is often found partly filled with sand, like some of the
tubular U l v a c eæ . In its general habit it most resembles the following
rai-e species, and some states of Chorda Lomentaria ; but it is
rarely, like the latter, contracted. I should hardly have ventured to
quote Agardh’s Scytosiphon Filum var. fstulosum, if he had not
referred to the figure in ‘ Fnglish Botany,’ which, though a wretched
representation, I cannot conceive to be any thing else than our present
plant. The species I published under the name of Encoelium Lyng-
byanum is not different, as I have since ascertained by tracing the
species through its various states and great range of size.
2. A s i ’e r o c o c c u s b u l l o s u s .
Frond thin membranaceous oblong-club-shaped inflated.
Aspcrococcus bullosus, L am o u r . E s s a i, p . 62. t . 6. f. 5.
Enccelium bullosum, A g . S p . A lg . v . 1. p . 146. S y s t. A lg . p . 262. S p r e n g . S p . P I. v . 4.
p . 328.
Gastridium Opuntia, L y n g b . H y d r o p h . D a n . p . 71. t . 18.
Ulva Turneri, Sm . E n g . B o t. t . 2570.
H a b . In the sea, on rocks and stems of Algse. Annual. Summer. On
the coast of Sussex, Mr Borrer. Rocks at Larderham, near Sidmouth,
Mrs Griffiths. Bantry Bay, Miss Hutchins. Appin, Captain
Carmichael.
Root a minute disk. Fronds solitary, or several growing from the
same base, one to three inches or more in length, and three lines to
one inch in diameter at its thickest part, rounded at the summit, attenuated
at the base, perfectly tubular, the sides thin and transparent.
Fruclif cation minute dots, composed of aggregated club-shaped or
somewhat pear-shaped short filaments, mixed with roundish yellowish
brown seeds.
Substance tender, thin, reticulated. Colour a sort of pale watery
olive-green, becoming rather darker when dried. It adheres imperfectly
to paper.
A rare species. Mrs Griffiths once remarked to me, that the plant
is not very conspicuous when growing under water: the cavity is
filled with that fluid, and the substance being thin and transparent, it
appears, to use Mrs Griffiths’ own words, to be of the colour of the
water itself, and therefore not easily seen, unless the light be cast upon
it in a particular manner. This may account for its having been so
rarely noticed. Specimens from the Cape of Good Hope, communicated
to me by Professor Agardh, agree with those from our own
shores. Lyngbye’s figure is incorrect, as far as regards the fructification.
It would have given me much pleasure could I have retained the
name bestowed upon this plant in “ Fnglish Botany.” The name I
have adopted was published as nearly as possible at the same time, in
1813, and, on account of being the one in general use, deserves the
preference.
D 2