J.24 EHiTiSH SEA-WEEDS. SJMelanospermeoi. 



largest of all the European species, and it is precious for all 

 tlie agricultural and chemical purposes for whicli L. cUr/itata 

 is so useful. It is not rare on the coast of Ayrshire, and 

 we have seen large bulbs cast ashore on the coast of Argyle- 

 sliire, near the Mull of Kint^re. 



3. Laminaria saccharina, Lamour. Sweet Tangle-, 

 Sea-Belt. 



Hab. In the sea. Perennial. Yery common. 



The root is composed of clasping fibres. The stem from 

 an inch to a foot in length. The frond is from a foot to 

 ten feet in length, and from an inch to sixteen inches in 

 breadth. The young plants make fine specimens for the 

 herbarium, keeping their colour, and adhering pretty well 

 to paper. The full-grown plants arc not only beautifully 

 waved at the margin like the young plants, but they are 

 frequently bullated and rugose and thickened at the centre. 

 The substance varies from cartilaginous to leathery. The 

 colour is olive-brown, tinged with yellow. It is well deserving 

 of the name of Saccharine, for, as I mentioned before, it has 

 been proved, by my friend Dr. Stcnhouse, to be rich in 

 mannite, which is nearly as sweet as sugar. With aU this, 

 however, to sweeten it, it is not relished as food; indeed, 

 the Norwegians, we are told, esteem it so lightly that they 



