S6 Rev» A, F* Kemp on the Shore Zones of 



tlie authority of Aghardh under this name " as having a com- 

 ** pressed stipes expanding into a linear dichotomus ribbed /rowc? ; 

 *' margin very entire ; air vessels none ; receptacles elongate, 

 ** linear, flattish repeatedly forked, three inches in length, scarcely 

 ** thicker than the frond, and tapering towards the apices." This 

 plant is found at the ordinary low water raark and is scarcely 

 «ver altogether out of the water. It retains a great deal of water 

 in its meshes, as the fronds, lying flat upon one another, do 

 not permit the water to escape. It is of a lighter olive color in 

 the water than the other plants of the genus. It measures from 

 1 to 2 1 feet in length, and is remarkably strong and firmly at- 

 tached to the lock by Its discoid root. Waving gracefully in the 

 rising or falling tide, or lashed by the angry waves, it presents an 

 interesting and beautiful appearance. Under its folds a variety 

 of Chondrus^ like that described as C, Norvegicus in Hervey*s 

 Manual, is found in great abundance, adhering to the rocks. The 

 •curious plant called Gigartina mamillosa^ but which seems in all 

 its features more allied to Chondrus than to Oigartina, finds 

 a secure habitation under its dense folds. On the lower part of its 

 stems Machisfa fucicola grows in great profusion affording a 

 byssoid ornamentation to that portion of the plant. 



There can be no doubt that these three plants occupy always 

 the same relative positions to one another in which they are here 

 found. The line of division may not, it is true, be so well marked 

 as are the lines of garden plots ; to some extent indeed they 

 mingle at their boundaries ; but there are considerable centrcg 

 in which they are found in great luxuriance, and in which no 

 other allied species grow. F. nodosus is the hardiest of all the 

 Fuci, and from its thicker and more leathery character can best 

 withstand the drying influences of the atmosphere and the sun. 

 These are indeed the conditions in which it grows to its fullest 

 dimensions, F. vesiculosus is more liable to be afi'ected by light 

 and heat than nodosus, and while it requires a measure of these 

 for its full growth, it can yet do with less than its neighbour. 

 F.furcatus again is more tender than either, and is less able to 

 resist the influence of the atmosphere. It is consequently from 

 its position two thirds less time out of the water than F. nodosus 

 and one third less than F. vesiculosus. In all probability it will 

 also contain fully more iodine than either of these plants, and 

 would form a better manure for the fields. 



