I
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brane; 1, spherical tuhercles, bonie on little stalks, mostly along one side
of the mid-rib, containing a profusion of ovate spores; 3, obovate sporo-
phylla, densely clothing the mid-rib, and thickly covered with a stratum of
minute tetraspores. Substance of the leaves delicately membranous, their
surface glossy and shining. Colour a fine crimson pink. I t adheres to
paper in di-ying.
This fine plant, whether we regard the splendour of its colour
or the elegance of its form, is entitled to high rank in the
Oceanic Flora, and notwithstanding its common occurrence on
all our shores, is never seen without attracting admiration.
In favourable localities it reaches to a very large size, the length
and breadth of its leaves greatly exceeding what our plate represents,
and such specimens are among the most beautifid vegetable
objects in nature. It therefore worthily commemorates, as the
type of the genus to which it belongs, the services rendered to
Botany by one of her most distinguished votaries, whose recent
loss will long be severely felt, and whose place in the wide circle
of which he was the centre, can never be supplied.
The variety -with lobed leaves, mentioned in the description,
was sent to me by the Rev. D. Landsborough, who gathered it
on the coast of Ayrshire. It is a very curious form, showing a
tendency towards B. sinuosa, from which, in colour and other
respects, it widely differs. It has also a considerable likeness
to B. Bavisii, a plant of the Southern Hemisphere, but in that
species the lateral nerves are alternate, not opposite; a character
which appears to be constant. Another variety, which I have
from the Baltic, has exceedingly narrow, lanceolate leaves, and,
until closely examined, might pass for a form of B. Hypoglossum.
I have seen no British specimens like it.
Dr. Hooker found at Cape Horn, two states of this species,
one resembling our British plant, except that each leaf was eighteen
inches in length ! and proportionahly broad; the other with
lanceolate leaves, from whose mid-ribs innumerable minute leaflets
spring. This last was only found in a young state, and may
possibly belong to a distinct species, which should be called
B. Hooheri.
Fig. I. D elesseih a sa n g u in ea :—o f the natural size. 2. Old mid-rib, with
sporophylia; natural size. 3. A sporopbyilum. 4. Tetraspores; both
magnified. 5. Old mid-ribs, with tubercles; natural size. 6. A tubercle.
7. Spores; both magnijied.