becoming alternately pinnatifid, seed-leaflets lanceolate, mostly at tbe
apex of the segments.
Belessei-ia alata, L am o u r . E s s a i, p . 124. L y n g b . H y d r o p h . D a n . p . 8. t. 2. Ag. S p . AJg.
V. I . p . 178. S y s t. A lg . p . 250. G re v . F I . E d in . p . 293.
Wormskioldia alata, S p r e n g . S p . P I . v . 4. p . 331.
Fucus alatus, H u d s . F I. A n g . p . 578. S m . E n g . B o t. 1. 1037. T u r n . S y n . F u c . p . 144.
H is t. F u c . t . 160.
Var. /3 angustissima, T u r n . , f r o n d e x t r em e ly n a r r o w , w i th o u t a n y t r a c e o f l a t e r a l m em -
b r a n e . T u r n . H i s t . F u c . t . 160. f . k .
H a b . In the sea, generally attached to the stems of Laminaria
digitata, &c. Biennial ? Summer. Common on the British coast.
Var. g at Scarborough, Mr Pitcliford. Lossiemouth in Scotland, Mr
Brodie.
Root a blackish disk, from which arise several plane much divided
fronds, three to eight inches in length, one to four lines in breadth,
the main divisions dichotomous, the subsequent ones alternately pinnatifid
; the principal branches spreading in such a manner that the width
of the frond is mostly gi-eater than the length. The margin is entire
and oven, and faint transverse veins are perceptible. Fructification :
1. spherical capsules attached to the midrib, or in minute lanceolate
leaflets arising from the midrib, and containing a mass of radiating
moniliform filaments, the uppermost joint of which swells into a red
obovate seed : ternate granules imbedded in minute lanceolate seed-leaflets
terminating the pinnte, or springing from the midrib. Sometimes
the ternate granules are imbedded in the apices of the pinnse themselves.
Substance transparent, tender, and membranaceous. Colour a deep
rose-red. In drying it adheres imperfectly to paper.
The var. g is an extraordinary plant, preserving in all respects the
mode of branching belonging to the common state of the species, but
, almost quite destitute of membrane,—in some specimens completely
so : it then, as Mr Turner has justly observed, seems more allied to
Microcladia glandulosa and Plocamium coccineum. I should have been
tempted to consider it distinct, were I not in possession of specimens
in which the lateral membrane can be distinctly traced in some parts of
the frond. The most remarkable circumstance attending this variety
is, that the membrane is often wanting to the very extremities of the
branches, where, nevertheless, we find a compressed frond, many times
thicker than the midrib, as it exists in the extreme branches of the plant
in its ordinary state.
In very broad fronds, the margin is slightly waved: in some Irish
specimens, collected by Dr Drummond, where the frond is half an inch
wide, the transverse veins are well marked to the naked eye.
4. D e l e s s e r ia H y p o g l o s s u m . Tab. X II.
Frond with leaves proliferous from the midrib, linear-lanceolate,
gradually attenuated at their origin, the youngest ones always lanceolate
and acute, ternate granules forming two linear parallel spots towards
the end of the leaves.
Delesseria hypoglossum, Ag . S p . A lg . v . 1. p . 176. S y s t . A lg . p . 249. G te v . F I . E d in . p . 293.
Delesseria hypoglossa, L am o u r . E s s a i, p . 124.
Wormskioldia Hypoglossum, S p r e n g . S p . P I . v . 4. p . 331.
Fucus Hypoglossum, W o o dw . in L in n . T r a n s , v . 2. p . 30. t . 7- S m . E n g . B o t. t . 1396.
T u m . S y n . F u c . p . 17* H i s t . F u c . 1 . 14.
S t a c k h . N e r . B r i t . p . 7 6 . 1 . 13.
H a b . In the sea, on rocks and other Algce. Annual. Producing
fructification in summer. Anglesea, Rev- H. Davies. All along the
coast of Cornwall and Isle of Wight, Stackhouse. Plymouth, Turner.
Weymouth, Pulteney. Torquay, Budleigh, Sidmouth, and Ilfracombe,
Mrs Griffiths. Dover, and shore at Swansea, Dillwyn.
Yarmouth, Mr Wigg. Corton and Gunton, Suffolk, Mrs Fowler.
Brighton, Mr Borrer. Scarborough, Mr Travis. Fxmouth. Bantry
Bay, Miss Hutchins. Near Belfast, Dr Drummond. Frith of Forth,
Dr Richardson. Fttrick Bay, Isle of Bute.
Root a minute disk. Fronds several from the same base, two to six
inches or more long, and one or two lines wide, at first a simple linear-
lanceolate frond, but afterwards branched by means of proliferous shoots
from the midrib. These shoots, which are in every respect similar to
the primary frond, give rise in the same manner to a third series, and
so on; the number depending upon the age and size of the plant. The
youngest leaves are always lanceolate, and nearest the apex. All the
leaves are undivided, reticulated, with very obscure pellucid simple
lines, passing from the midrib to the margin; the margin entire, flat,
or slightly waved, the extremity more or less acute. Fructification ;
1. spherical capsules sessile on the midrib of the smaller leaves, containing
obovate somewhat stalked seeds: 2. oblong or linear sori or spots
a line or more in length, on each side of the midrib on the younger
leaves of distinct plants, composed of ternate granules.
Substance thin and membranaceous, adhering to paper in drying.
Colour a beautiful transparent rose-pink.
In regard to the size, the degi-ee of ramification, the breadth of the
leaves, and the substance, this very elegant Alga is subject to variation,
but the leading characters will prevent its being confounded with