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XII. Observations upon the Generic Char abler of U/va A with Defcriptions 

 offome new Species. By Thomas Jenkinfon Woodimrd^ Efq. F. L. S. 



Read December 2, 1794. 



THE introduction of a new Alga from the Mediterranean fea, 

 which in fructification agrees with fome of the plants 

 arranged in the genus Ulva, but in other particulars by no means 

 accords with the generic character, made it neceflfary to take a 

 general examination and confideration of the fpecies enumerated by 

 different authors ; in order to ascertain whether it might properly 

 be placed amongfl them, or muft be confidered as forming a new 

 genus of itfelf. The refult of this enquiry has been a thorough 

 conviction, that the mod extreme anomaly exifts amongft the fpe- 

 cies at prefent arranged by various authors in this genus; a cir- 

 cumftance which cannot efcape the obfervation of every botanical 

 itudent, who may undertake the invefligation and confideration of 

 the marine plants. Under this impreflion the prefent paper has 

 been compofed, in which it is propofed to point out the impropriety 

 of the generic character as it now {lands, and to offer to the confi- 

 deration of the members of the Linnaan Society, and through them 

 to botanifts in general, fuch a character as may include the different 

 defcriptions of plants at prefent placed in this genus. This is 

 followed by a defcription of fome new fpecies. 



The 



