90
Root a minute disk, throwing up several fronds. Frond about an
inch long, dividing near the base into several main branches, flat and
even, entire at the margin, linear or dilated upwards, about a line in
width, the branches again dividing once or twice subdichotomously, and
then bearing numerous other smaller segments in an alternately pinnatifid
manner, decurrent and cleft or laciniated at the apices ; every
division has a tendency to dilate upwards, so that the circumference of
the frond is extended and crowded. Fructification, sessile spherical
dark red capsules half the size of poppy-seed, usually occurring towards
the extremity of the branches.
Substance membranaceous, or very slightly cartilaginous, adhering
closely to paper in drying. Colour a rose red, nearly similar to that
of Delesseria alata.
A variety of this species is figured and described by Mr Turner,
from specimens brought from the Red Sea by the Earl of Mountnorris.
It is narrow, linear throughout, and two inches or more in length.
The same variety, upon the authority of the Flora Scotica, was found
on the shore of Caithness by Dr Hooker and Mr Borrer. The species
seems to be of very rare occurrence. Ternate granules have not been
observed, but future researches will probably discover them to exist.
6. R h o d o m e n i a c i l i a t a .
[Root fibrous, fi'ond between membranaceous and cartilaginous somewhat
lanceolate and more or less pinnated with sublanceolate branches
attenuated at their origin the surface and margin ciliated, capsules
spherical, in the ciliæ.
Sphoerococcus ciliatus, Ag. L y n g b . H y d r o p h . D a n . p . 12. t . 4. A g . S p . A lg . v . 1. p . 263.
S y s t. A lg . p . 221. S p r e n g . S p . P I . v . 4. p . 334.
Delesseria ciliata, Lamour. Essai, p. 37.
Halymenia ciliata, G a ill. D i e t . S c . N a t . v . 53. p . 361.
Fucus ciliatus, H u d s . F I. A n g . p . 580. S ta c k h . N e r . B r i t . p . 90. t . 15. Sm . E n g . B o t.
t . 1069. T u m . S y n . F u c . p . 169. H i s t . F u c . t . 70. figs. a—e.
H a b . In the sea. Annual. Producing capsules only in the winter.
Frequent on the English coast, especially in the south and south-west.
Rare in Scotland. Rare also near Belfast, Dr Drummond.
Root a mass of pink cylindrical branched creeping fibres. Fronds
several from the same root, three to nine inches long, filiform at the
base, but rapidly expanding, half an inch to near two inches broad in
the widest part; this primary frond is of a lanceolate figure, but
the general outline depends upon the branches or divisions which
are apt to vary in number, form, and length. They arise from the
margin generally in a pinnatifid manner (rarely somewhat palmate),
and are more or less contracted at their origin, often so much so as to
make them appear like proliferous fiondlets supported on little stalks.
They are more or less lanceolate, a few lines to an inch in width, and
one to six inches in length, but in these respects are very unequal on
the same plant. The margin is fringed with small subulate ciliæ a
line or more in length, which are often also found upon the disk.
Fructification ; 1. spherical pink capsules, nearly as large as turnip-
seed, situate in the ciliæ both of the margin and surface ; 2. granules
very minute, on distinct individuals, forming broad irregular cloud-like
stains on the surface, perceptible to the practised eye.
Substance thickish, rather firm, between cartilaginous and membranaceous,
becoming thinner, and not adhering to paper in drying ; the
texture dense. Colour a deep semitransparent red, sometimes (but
not always) becoming much darker when dry.
This plant and the following one deviate from the other species in their
distinctly fibrous root, and in the duller red colour of the frond. In
regard to the root, however, R. Palmetta must be considered intermediate,
as the disk is furnished with fibres which often creep much in the
same manner.
R. ciliata occurs sometimes almost destitute of branches, or with a
division or two only, in a palmate manner : at other times the frond is
only a few lines wide, entangled, and much branched at the base, slender
and attenuated. Specimens collected by Dr Drummond, at Bangor,
in Ireland, are from a few lines to nearly an inch wide, fringed at the
margin, with almost filiform cilice, above an inch long ; the apex of
the frond is also laciniate, the laciniæ passing into similar cilioe.
7. R h o d o m e n i a j u b a t a .
Root fibrous, frond flaccid between membranaceous and coriaceous
linear-attenuated vaguely branched the branches simple or once or
twice pinnatifid ciliated the ciliæ linear-subulate, containing the fructification.
Sphoerococcus jubatus, G r e v . C r y p t . F I. t . 359.
Sphoerococcus ciliatus, jubatus, linearis, angustus, a n d spinosus, Ag . S p . A lg . v . 1.
p . 264. S y s t. A lg . p . 221.
Fucus jubatus, G o o d e n , a n d W o o dw . L in n . T r a n s , v . 3 . 1 . 1?. S ta c k h . N e r . B r i t . p . 51.1 . 11.
Fucus ciliatus, v a r s . jubatus, lanceolatus, atJgustus, a n d spinosus, T u m . H is t. F u c .
t . 70. f. f - h .