HARVEY’S ILLUSTRATIONS, 297 
This supposed species of Laminaria was introduced to the 
British Flora by Mr. James Chalmers, who published speci- 
mens gathered in the Island of Islay in his * Algæ Scoticze;" - 
and it has since been admirably figured in Dr. Greville’s 
“ Scottish Cryptogamic Flora.” No one appears to have 
detected it in any other locality: although a plant agreeing 
in shape, size and colour, but hitherto supposed to have a - 
different structure, occurs on many of our shores, being found 
in Devonshire by Mrs. Griffiths, near Belfast by Dr. Drum- 
mond, and in the West of Ireland by myself. This is the 
Punctaria latifolia of the ** Alge Britannice ;’ and Dr. 
Greville admits, that, “in its outline and general appear- 
ance, it resembles Laminaria debilis, which as well as the 
two following species of Punctaria, Sprengel has referred to 
his Zonaria plantaginea, an association which proves him 
to have generalized without much examination.” 
Under Laminaria debilis, he further observes :—“ Sprengel 
has not admitted this plant as a species into his Species Plan- 
tarum, but refers it as a synonym to Zonaria plantaginea of 
Agardh, the Punctaria plantaginea of this work. It is never- 
theless not only perfectly distinct, but has no affinity what- 
ever with the genus Punctaria." 
With opinions against me thus strongly expressed by 
so high an authority as my friend Dr. Greville, I fear I shall 
be thought presumptuous in stating my conviction that 
however distinct the three reputed species of Punctaria may 
be among themselves, (a point I leave for future observation) 
the Laminaria debilis is completely identical with Punctaria 
latifolia. 
I trust I have not come to this conclusion hastily or without 
a minute examination and comparison of authentic specimens 
of both species—those of L. debilis gathered at Islay by Mr. 
. Chalmers and given to me by Mr. Arnott, and those of P. 
latifolia, by Mrs. Griffiths from Devonshire. It was Mrs. 
Griffiths indeed who first called my attention to the subject, 
by remarking that specimens from Chalmers which I had 
Sent her, were the same as her P. latifolia: and I find that 
Seconp SERIES. 2P 
