82 F L O R ID EÆ . [Nitopìiyllmn. Nitophyllìim.'] F L O R ID EÆ . 83
5. N it o p h y l l u m G m e l in i .
Stem short, passing into a frond witli a roundish outline deeply
cleft the main segments broadly wedge-shaped vaguely subdivided
faintly marked witb vague tlexuose veins, tbe margin entire, spots of
ternate granules irregular, marginal.
Delesseria (Jnielini, L am o u r . E s s a i, p . 36.
H a b . In the sea. Annual. Summer. Torquay, Budleigh and
Sidmouth, Mrs Griffiths. Ilfracombe, Miss Hill. Larne, near Belfast,
Dr Drummond.
Root a small disk. Stem two lines to half an inch in height, simple
or divided into two to four branches, each expanding into a roundish
semicircular or broadly wedge-shaped frond, one to four inches in
height, cleft more than half-way down into two to five wedge-shaped
segments, which are again divided, but not so deeply, very unequally
and irregularly, the summits always obtuse. The margins are entire,
and mostly quite even: the reticulated substance is traversed from the
base to the extremity with obscure often pale veins, always perceptible
when fresh, but sometimes almost disappearing in dried specimens.
Fructification; 1. capsules not so lai'ge as tui'nip-seed, dark red, hemispherical,
scattered remotely over the surface of the frond ; 2. spots
of ternate granules irregular, often confluent, forming interrupted lines
a little within the margin.
Substance thin and membranaceous, hut firmer and more elastic
than tbe following, cartilaginous in the stem. Colour a purplish rose-
red.
After comparing numerous individuals communicated by Mrs Griffiths
in the most perfect state of fructification, added to some magnificent
ones collected in Ireland hy Dr Drummond, with authentic specimens
of Lamouroux’s Delesseria Gmelini presented to me by my friend
M. Chauvin of Caen, I do not hesitate to consider the present species as
essentially distinct. I have never seen it myself in a growing state,
but have been indebted to the lady above mentioned for several observations,
without which my account of it would necessarily have been
imperfect. The frond seldom exceeds three or four inches in height,
but is often more in width, and is altogether a compact plant contrasted
with the following, from which it is also remarkably distinguished
by being never fringed. The Irish specimens are twice the
size of the English ones.
6. N it o p h y l l u m l a c e r a t u m .
Frond dicbotomously or vaguely divided sublinear more or leas
traversed hy obscure flexuose longitudinal veins, the margin either entire
crenate waved or fringed with little processes, spots of ternate
granules marginal.
Delesseria lacerata, Ag. S p . A lg . v . I. p . 184. S y s t. Alg. p . 2.51. G re v . I 'l . E d in . p . 29'i.
Wormskioldia lacera, S p r e n g . S p . P I. v . 4. p . 332.
Chondrus laceratus, L y n g b . I-Iy d ro p li. D a n . p . 18.
Fucus laceratus, G m e l. H i s t . F u c . p . 179. t. 21. f. 4. S ta c k h . N e r . l î r i t . p . 77- t. 13.
. T u r n . S y n . F u c . p . 154. H is t. F u c . t . 68. Sm . E n g . B o t. t . 1067-
Fucus crispatus, H u d s . F I. A ng. p . 580.
Fucus endiviæfolius, L ig h t f . F I. S c o t. p . 948. t. 32.
H a b . in the sea, attached to rocks and various Algoe. Annual.
Summei'. Common, especially on the English coast. Remarkably
large near Belfast, Dr Drummond.
Root a small disk. Fronds several from the same base, two to nine
inches in length, two lines to half an inch in width, cleft to the
base in a dichotomous or alternate manner : sometimes the main divisions
spring from nearly the same point in a subpalmate manner ;
these are again repeatedly subdivided, the ultimate segments rounded
and obtuse ; the margin is sometimes quite entire, but often producing
short decurrent alternate laciniæ ; it is also much waved and curled
(rarely even), and frequently notched or set with minute slender processes.
Slender, obscure, flexuose, nearly parallel veins, darker than
the frond, sometimes traverse the whole length of the branches, but in
other cases are only visible towards the base. Fructification, 1. hemispherical
dark red capsules, nearly as large as turnip-seed, scattered
irregularly over every part of the frond, or situate in the minute marginal
processes ; 2. spots of ternate granules mostly roundish, confined
to the margin.
Substance extremely thin, transparent, and easily lacerated, adhering
but slightly to paper in drying. Colour varying from' pink red to
brown red, and becoming rather darker when dry.
A variable plant, but distinguished from the preceding by the linear
frond, the curled and fringed margin, and by the absence of a decided
stem. Sometimes, it is true, there is a spurious stem produced by the
wearing away of the membrane at the base, but it is easily distinguished
from the true stem of N. Gmelini. Mr Turner’s variety y (and
perhaps ï) I take to be the latter plant, but, in the absence of authen-
F 2