278 ALGiE INARTICULATE. [Punclarla. 



as Dr. Greville observes " as nearly as possible at the same time with 

 that of Lamouroux, 1813;" and, being a compliment to our greatest 

 British Algologist, should have the preference. 



5. A. compressus, (compressed Asperococcus) ; frond flat thick- 

 ened at the edges rather short attenuated at both extremities 

 here and there slightly contracted gelatinous. — A. compressus, 

 Mrs. Griffiths' MSS. 



Kocks on the south coast of England, rare. Meadfoot, Sidmouth 

 and Torquay, Mrs. Griffiths. 0. Summer. — To Mrs. Griffiths is en- 

 tirely due the merit of discovering and distinguishing this Alga, which 

 is from 3 to 6 inches in height and from 3 lines to .nearly an 

 inch in diameter, " tender and gelatinous in all stages, always flat, but 

 consisting of a double membrane united at the edges, which, when the 

 plant is fresh, are considerably thickened : there is not the slightest ten- 

 dency to be tubular or inflated." — The larger fronds are often invested 

 with a parasite, apparently a young Entermorpha and with Ceramium 

 diaphanum. This plant may, as Mrs. Griffiths observes, be considered 

 intermediate between Asperococcus and Punctaria. 



15. Punctaria. Grev. Punctaria. 



Frond simple, membranaceous, flat, with a naked scutate root. 

 Fructification scattered over the whole frond in minute distinct 

 spots, composed of roundish prominent seeds, intermixed with 



club-shaped filaments. Grev. Alg. Brit. p. 52. t. 9 Name 



derived from the Latin (contrary to a Linnsean axiom, though a 

 practice sanctioned by many eminent Botanists besides the au- 

 thor of this Genus) punctum, a dot; the numerous fructifications 

 exhibiting a dotted appearance. 



1. P '. plantaginea, Grev. (plantain-leaved Punctaria); frond 

 coriaceo-membranaceous attenuated at the base into a short 

 stipes reddish-brown. — Grev. Alg. Brit. p. 53. t. 9. — Zonaria? 



plantaginea, Ag. Sp. Alg. v. 1. p. 138 Viva plantaginea, 



Roth.~E. Bot. t. 2136. Lyngb. Hydroph. Dan. p. 31. t. 6. 



Marine rocks, Sidmouth and Torbay, Mrs. Griffiths. Near Belfast, 

 Dr. Drummond. 0. April, May. — Of this fine species I possess ex- 

 cellent specimens from Mrs. Griffiths, 6—10 inches long; that 

 lady describes them to be " of a thick, gelatinous (hence shrinking 

 much in drying) and tender substance, yet brittle, breaking when bent 

 without great care; every where covered with short hair-like fibres which 

 give it a satiny feel." She rightly distinguishes it from the preceding, 

 which (independent of its different outline,) is " thin, membranaceous, 

 leathery, smoother and with a different fructification." In the present 

 species, Dr. Greville, who had the opportunity of examining specimens 

 in a recent state, says the " fructification represents minute dots, scat- 

 tered over the whole surface, composed of roundish seeds intermixed 

 with linear-elliptical, articulated, short filaments, filled with a dark red- 

 dish mass." 



2. P. latifolia, Grev. (broad-leaved Punctaria); frond oliva- 

 ceous thick subgelatinous tender oblong or obovate suddenly 

 tapering into a very short stipes. — Grev. Alg. Brit. p. 52. 



