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LAMINARIA DIGITATA, var. STENOPHYLLA. 



Laminaria stenojjhylla. — Stem elongate, cylindrical at the base, flat- 

 tened upwards, smooth and polished, of a dark brown colour ; frond 

 narrow, tapering at the base. 



Laminaria digitata, vai-. stenophylla. — Harv. Phyc. Brit. pi. 338 ; Uarv. Syn, 

 p. 26 ; Atlas, plate 7, fig. 25. 



Hafgtqia digitata, var. stenophylla. — Kiltz. Sp. Alg. p. 577. 



Laminaria conica. — Bory, Diet. CI. iVHist. Nat. vol. ix. p. 190. 



Hab. — Common on the shores of the north of Scotland and Ireland. 



Description. — Root, a conical mass of strong branching fibres, 

 strongly adhering by then- flattened discs. Stem one to four or more 

 feet in length, and half an inch to an inch in breadth, more or less 

 cylindrical at the base, compressed upwards, and somewhat widened, 

 with, when old, a dark brown, smooth, and glossy surface, never corru- 

 gated, tough and coriaceous, gradually widening into a naiTOw linear 

 frond, several feet in length, and two to fom- inches in breadth, split 

 when old into numerous narrow lacinise. 



In Scotland this species or variety is universally known in town and 

 country by the name of Tangle, and is eaten in the young state with 

 considerable rehsh by those who are accustomed to it, being generally 

 mixed, when it can be had, with the dulse {Rhod. fxdmata) which are 

 hawked about for sale. It is only when the stems are from eight to 

 ten inches in length, however, that they are so used. When above that 

 size they are rejected as being too tough and leathery ; so tough are the 

 stems of this species, that when partially dried they can be readily tied 

 into knots or plaited like cords. 



The stems of L. digitata always stand erect or nearly so, even if 

 removed from the water, while those of the present bend over, even 

 from the base ; so much so, that the stem as well as the frond readily 

 swing about in the swell. 



This fonn appears to be no less common than the preceding, inhabit- 

 ing quiet tide-pools, often attached to smooth stones in large clusters. 



