222 CRYPTOGAMIA. 
vegetable matter flies off; and the ashes unite into a har 
bluish mass, which is the kelp. Barilla is a substance of t 
same nature, and formed in the same way, but richer 
purer. Itis imported from the Mediterranean. 
Economicat Prorerties.—The Alge contain a | 
quantity of a nutritious gelatinous substance (mucilage and 
albumen, according to Richard), and, were it not for their 
saltness, would probably be much more employed as artich 
of food. Sir Humphrey Davy (Agricul. Chem. p. 245) men- 
tions, that from the Common Fucus, by boiling it in water, 
he obtained one-eighth of a gelatinous matter, which 
characters similar to mucilage. “ Rhodomenia palmata 
(Fucus palmatus), the Dulse of the Scots, Dillesk of tl 
Irish, and Saccharine Fucus of the Icelanders, is com- 
sumed in considerable quantities throughout the maritime 
countries of the north of Europe, and in the Grecian Arebi 
pelago : Tridea edulis (Fucus e., Halymenia e., and ‘ 
in the south-west of England), is still occasionally used. 
“ Porphyra laciniata (Ulva laciniata or umbilicalis, Slok 
_ Seotland), and P. vulgaris (P. purpurea, Ulva umbilicalis 
purpurea), is stewed and brought to our tables as a luxury. 
under the name of ‘ laver;’ and even the Ulva latissima, OF 
Green laver, is not slighted in the absence of the Porphyre. 
“+ Laurentia pinnatifida (Fucus pinnatifidus), distinguished 
its pungency, and the young stalks and fronds of Laminaria 
_ digitata—the former called Pepper Dulse, the latter Tangle 
—were often eaten in Scotland.” ‘“ When stripped of the 
thin part, the beautiful Alaria esculenta (Laminaria e., Fu- 
cus esculentus, Bladder-locks, Honey-ware), forms a part of 
the simple fare of the poorer classes in Ireland, 
Iceland, Denmark, and the Faroe Islands.” — Greville. 
“ “ To go farther from home, we find the large Laminaria 
rth or ies ae en oa 
eer 
