O r d e r V IL — F U R C E L L A R IB Æ .
Pkmts marine, o f a dull, dark purplish or Irnownish red colour,
cliaugimj to black on exposure to the air. Substance cartilaginous.
Structure cellular, with a dense coloured stratum o f
horizonlul filaments fonning the circwrference. Root creeping.
Frond ajlindrical, filifonn, dichotomous. Fructification terminal,
composed o f pod-like, indéhiscent receptacles, within
tvhich is imbedded, near the circumference, a horizoiital circular
sti'atum o f dark brown obhng-pear-shaped seeds.
Obs. This well marked family contains only a single genus, and that
genus one species. It resembles the following Order in habit, but is
removed as far from it in the fructification as the F u co id eæ , or any
other group, most opposed to it. In structure it is not fibrous, and
therefore approaches nearer to the following than the preceding Orders,
an arrangement confirmed both by the colour and habit. The seeds,
however, in their colour and form are near to those of the D ic t y o t eæ ;
but they are destitute of the limbus, always present both in that family
and the F u c o id eæ . Lamouroux and Agardh, nevertheless, both place
it among the F u co id eæ . At the same time, the former expresses his
opinion, that more accurate observations might lead future botanists to
arrange it among the F l o r id eæ , and that the fructification might he
regarded as an elongated tubercle or capsule.
G e n u s X X II. FURCELLARIA, Lanimr. Tab. XI.
Ge n . Ch a r . Frond cartilaginous, cylindrical, filiform, di-
cliotomous. Fructification, terminal elongated pod-like
receptacles containing a stratum of dark oblong-pearshaped
seeds in the circumference.
Obs. Lamouroux proposed this genus in his Essai, and chai-acterized
it by the form of the receptacles. Agardh, who has adopted it, very
justly remarks, that the internal structure equally contributes to establish
it.
1. F u r c e l l a r ia f a s t ig ia t a . Tab. XI.
Furcellaria fastigiata, L am o u r . E s s a i, p . 2G. A g . S p . A lg . v . 1. p . 103. S y s t. A lg . p . 274
G r e v . F I . E d in . p . 286.
Furcellaria lumbricalis, L am o u r . E s s a i, p . 26. L y n g b . H y d r o p h . D a n . p . 48. t . 40. A
f . i _ 4. b a d . S p r e n g . S p . P I . v . 4. p . 315.
Fucus fastig ia tu s, H u d s . F I. A n g . p . 588. G m e l. H is t. F u c . p . 106. t . 6. f . 1. G o o d e n
a n d W o o dw . in L in n . T r a n s , v . 3. p . 199.
Fucus lumbricalis, G m e l. H i s t . F u c . p . 108. t . 6. f . 2. G o o d e n , a n d W o o d w . i n L in n
T r a n s v . 3. p . 204. T u r n . S y n . F u c . p . 317- H is t. F u c . t. 6 . S m . E n g . B o t. t . 824.
S t a c k h . N e r . B r i t . t . 6.
Fucus furcellatus, L in n . S p . P I . p . 103L
H ab . On rocks in the sea, extremely common. Perennial? In
fructification during the winter months.
Root creeping, composed of entangled, pale pink, fibres. Fronds
tufted, very numerous, three to nine inches in height, about as thick
as a crow-quill, cylindrical, many times divided in a dichotomous
manner, the branches fastigiate, with acute axils, and, when haiTen,
obtuse at the apex. Eructif cation, elongated pod-like acute receptacles,
about an inch and a half in length, terminating the branches,
of which they seem to be continuations in colour and substance, but
are twice as thick. Within, are imbedded numerous oblong-pearshaped
dark brown seeds, arranged coricentiically in a circle within
the circumference of the whole length. Substance cartilaginous. Colour
dark brownish or purplish red, changing in decay to gi’eenish. When
dry it becomes quite black, brittle, and does not adhere to paper.
A very singular state of the plant forms Mr Dawson Turner’s
variety g. It is characterized by the little, ovate-lanceolate, transparent,
very pale, soft, terminations of the branches, generally two or
three lines in length, and somewhat compressed. I am inclined to
agi'ee with Mr Turner, that these bodies are in some way or other
connected with the fi-uctification, for they appear, he observes, at the
same time with the cylindi-ical pods. They occur on distinct individuals.
When dissected, there are no traces of seeds, but the filaments
forming the structure of the circumference are swollen and moniliform.
They are clearly abortive attempts of the vegetating power, whether
regarded as connected with the fructification, or the mere growth of
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