29'2 ALGM INARTICULATE. [Plocamium. 



colour. This is the Dulse of the Scotch, who are very fond of it in ^ 

 fresh and crude state. Lightfoot says, however, that they prefer it dried 

 and rolled up, when they chew it like tobacco for the pleasure arising 

 from the habit. This is the "saccharine Fucus" or Sol of the Icelanders, 

 the efflorescence of which has a sweetish and not disagreeable taste. It 

 is dried by the natives, packed down in casks, and used as occasion re- 

 quires, frequently cooked with butter. Cattle, sheep in particular, often 

 eat this species with eagerness, whence it has been called Fucus oviuus. 

 I follow the able author of the Algae Brit., in uniting the Fucus Samiensis 

 of Mertens with the Rkodomenia palmata, and indeed I have received 

 specimens from Mrs. Griffiths which are clearly intermediate. The 

 capsular fruit has been detected (by Professor Mertens) only on the var. 

 /3. See note to R. polycarpa, p. 290. 



9. R. sobolifera, Grev. (proliferous Rkodomenia); frond mem- 

 branaceous shortly stipitate, stem filiform dividing into branches 

 which expand into flat dilated fronds much deeply and irregu- 

 larly cleft, the segments linear wedge-shaped laciniated at their 

 apex. Grev. Alg. Brit. p. 95. — Halymenia ? sobolifera, Ag. Sp. 

 Alg. v. 1. p. 218.— Fucus soboliferus, Fl. Dan. — Turn. Hist. 

 Fuc. t. 45. E. Bot. t. 2133. Hook. Fl. Scot. P. II. p. 107. 



On Lamhiaria digitala, shores of the Orkney islands. Mull of Gal- 

 way, Rev. Dr. Walker. Glenarm, Ireland, Dr. Drummond.— The near- 

 est ally of this is undoubtedly the var. /3. Samioisis of Rkodomenia pal- 

 mata : but it is much smaller, and the frond is marked with obscure but 

 larger reticulations. Fructification unknown. 



10. R. reniformis, (kidney-shaped Ilhodomenid); stipes very 

 short, frond simple or branched suddenly expanding into a 

 cartilagineo-membranaceous simple or proliferous entire lobed 

 or laciniated reniform or suborbicular frond, capsules and 



granules scattered. — Irudcea reniformis, Bory Halymenia 



renif, Ag. Sp. Alg. v. 1. p. 201. — Fucus reniformis, Grev. Alg. 

 Brit. v. 160. Turn. Hist. Fuc. t. 113. E.Bot. t. 2116. 



Sea-shore, Isle of Wight, Miss Everett. Rocks, Budleigh and Tor- 

 quay, Mrs. Griffiths. Ilfracombe, Miss Hill. Cornwall, Mr. Rashleigh. 

 Miltown Malbay, Mr. Harvey. If.? Summer and Autumn.— Frond 

 sometimes 7— 8 'inches in length. The /3. of Mr. Turner scarcely deserves 

 to be mentioned as a var., for it may be seen gradually passing into the 

 more usual state of the species.— I have, at the suggestion of Mr. Harvey, 

 and with the consent of Dr. Greville, referred this plant to Rhodomenia. 

 It possesses the ternate granules; while the "immersed globules" of the 

 latter author are truly a capsular fruit, figured and described by- 

 Mr. Turner. Mrs. Griffiths finds both kinds of fructification at Tor- 

 quay. 



(Rhodomenia 7Wiiof Dr. Greville will here be found under the Genus 



Gigartina). 



27. Plocamium. Lamour. Plocamium. 



Frond filiform, compressed, between membranaceous and 

 cartilaginous, fine pink-red, much branched, branches distichous 

 (alternately secund and pectinate). Fructification of 2 kinds : 



