(162) 



This curious little plant is said to be densely tufted or rather 

 ctespitose, spreading widely over mud- covered rocks, preferring a 

 shelving to a rocky shore, aad has been observed from the Land's End 

 to Orkney in distant stations both on the east and west coasts, and it is 

 quite possible that it may be common, its scarceness depending more on 

 its obscurity than its rarity. 



Our specimens from Torbay, by the late Mrs. Griffiths, are tall and 

 well fruited ; others from the Frith of Forth are scarcely half the size 

 and barren. 



Looking at well-developed specimens of S. cirrJiosa, one would not 

 suppose at first sight that there was much in common in the two forms, 

 yet Agardh, after a very careful comparison, has united them ; and 

 indeed, except the ramification, which seems apparent enough, there is 

 little else to distinguish them. S. cirrhosa, however, is often observed 

 with simple stems, and then it is no easy matter to distinguish them ; 

 this, however, is no reason why the species should not be distinct. 



Again, Sir W. Jackson Hooker seems to consider the ^S'. olivacea and 

 S. radicans of the British Flora as hardly distinct ; Professor Harvey 

 united them, and we think very justly, imder S. radicans. A more 

 careful observation of the different species or forms in their native 

 habitats, is perhaps requisite before we can come to a definite conclusion. 



SPHACELARIA RADICANS. 



EXPLANATION OF DISSECTIONS, &c. 



Fig. l.—Sphacelaria radicans, tuft, natural size. 

 2. — Branch. 

 3. — Same. 

 4. — Base of stem. All masnified. 



