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The discovery on the British shore of an Alga hitherto
known only to exist in the seas of India, must have a singular
interest in the eyes of every British botanist. Luxuriant specimens,
and these, too, in the most perfect state of fructification,
have been communicated to me, correctly named, by my
kind friend Mrs G r i f f i t h s , who finds it abundantly near
Sidmouth. The specimens were also accompanied’ by a very
faithful drawing from the pencil of Miss G r i f f i t h s . It is
thrown ashore in so uninjured a state, that it must be an inhabitant
of the deep water at no great distance from the Chit
Hocks. Mrs G r i f f i t h s further informs me, that she discovered
the same plant as long ago as the year 1813, but at that
period did not refer it with certainty to any known species.
Like Sphcerococcus confervoides, to one variety of which
Mr D a w s o n T u r n e r considers S. lichenoides nearly allied,
it probably varies exceedingly in its motle and degree of ramification,
and in other appearances of the frond. The specimens
communicated to me by Professor A g a r d h , are as slender as
Mr T u r n e r ’s var. and, like the variety procerrimus of
S. confervoides, are almost simple. These were gathered in
the island of Manilla. Some of the individuals forwarded to
me by Mrs G r i f f i t h s have the branches decidedly fastigiate ;
others not at all. From every state of S. confervoides, however,
it is distinguished hy its moist gelatinous substance, and
reticulated structure.
In the east, this species is brought to the table, especially
in Ceylon, and the neighbouring parts of India ; and it has
even been conjectured that the celebrated edible swallow-nests
of the Chinese may be composed of this or some similar marine
plant.
Fig. 1. S. lichenoides, natural size. Fig. 2. Poi'lion o f ihe frond, milk iu-
hercles. Fig. 3. A tubercle divided.. Fig. 4. Seeds. Fig. 5. Portion o f
ihe frond, to show the reticulated structure. Fig. 6. Transverse slice <f the
frond, to show the internal cellular mass, turgid with gelatinous flu id :—
magnified.
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