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SPH^^EROCOCCUS l i c h e n o i d e s -
Gelatinous Sphcerococcus.
C l a s s a n d O r d e r CRYPTOGAMIA ALG®, Linn N a t . O e d . ALGM, J u s s .
GEN ERIC CHARACTER.
Frons varia (plana compressa vel cylindrka) . Fructus capsulce sphcericce nu*
cleo ghboso sporidiorum.
Frond various (plane, compressed or cylindrical). Fructification; spherical
capsules, containing a globular nucleus o f seeds.
s p e c i f ic c h a r a c t e r .
S p h . e r o c o c c u s li c h e n o id e s ; _/ro«de gelatinosa, Jtliformi, vage ramosa, ramis
patentibus subfastigiatis, acuminatis, tuberculis hemisphxericis sparsis.
S. frond gelatinous, filiform, irregularly branched, the branches spreading,
subfastigiate, acuminated : tubercles hemispherical, scattered.
S p h a s r o c o c c u s lic h e n o id e s , Ag. Sp. Alg. v . 1. p . 3 0 9 Syst. Alg. p . 2 3 3 .
Fucus lichenoides. Herb. Finn.—Turn. Hist. Fuc. 1 .118.—Esper. Fuc. t. 50.
sec. specim. in Herb. Mertensii, fid e Ag.
F u c u s edulis, Gmel. Fuc. p . 113.
Fucus e d u lis , ram is , &c. Bumph. Amb. v . 6. p . 181. t. 76. A,-C. e t t. 74. f. 3.
fid e Agardh.
P l o c a r i a C a n d id a , Nees, in Hor. Berol. t. 6. fid e Agardh.
H a b . In the sea. Sidmouth, Devonshire; August. Mrs G r i f f i t h s .
Root a small conical disk. Fronds aggregate, of a red colour, 6-12 inches
in height, varying in thickness from the diameter of a crow’s quill to
twice or thrice th a t size, cylindrical, attenuated at the base and summit,
irregularly branched even from the base, the branches more or
less numerous, spreading, attenuated towards their extremity, and bearing
others again in an alternate or somewhat secund manner, these last
being also often subdivided. The fructification consists of hemispherical
tubercles, smaller than turnip-seed, scattered over every part of the
frond, and containing a globose mass of very minute, red, oval-oblong
seeds.
The substance is tender and gelatinous when recent, and, according to Mrs
G r i f f i t h s , easily injured, unless carefully handled. The interior is
composed of a large cellular tissue, filled with gelatinous fluid. The
exterior is also reticulated, though not at once perceptible. After ha-i
ving been once dried, the frond, when moistened, is tenacious, and
somewhat flaccid.
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