ULVA Lactuca.
Green Laver, or Oyster Green.
CRYPTOGAMIA Algae.
Gen. Char. Frond membranous or gelatinous. Seeds
solitary, scattered throughout its substance, under
the cuticle.
Spec. Char. Membranous, pellucid, palmate, proliferous,'
bright green; its segments narrowest at
their lower part.
Syn. Ulva Lactuca. Linn. Sp. P l. 1 6 3 2 . Huds. 5 6 6 .
With. v. 4. 12 3. Hull. 3 1 1 . L ightf. 9 7 0 . Relh. 4 8 0 .
Roth. Catalect. 2 0 6 .
U . marina, lactuca; similis. R ail Syn. 62 .
Tremella marina vulgaris, lactucge similis. D ill. Muse,
4 2 . t. 8 . / . 1.
C o m m o n in the sea and about the mouths of large rivers,
growing under water upon stones and shells. A supposed
small variety is found in fresh water.
It is an annual plant, and bears its fructification in the autumn.
The fronds generally grow in clusters, fixed by a round
cartilaginous base, erect or spreading, simple, divided or proliferous,
generally palmate, always dilated upwards and narrower
towards the base. The texture of the whole is uniform,
membranous, thin and tender; the colour an uniform, bright,
shining, transparent green. There are no ribs nor veins. The
seeds are equally diffused, and very minute. .
This sea-weed has a salt and bitterish flavour like most of
its tribe. It has within a few years been, introduced to'fashionable
tables, being stewed with lemon juice. It is esteemed
wholesome for scrophulous habits; but can scarcely be taken
in sufficient quantities to do much good, without too strong
an effect on the bowels.