THAT.T.OGEyji:. 727 



largely emploj-ed in the East for making nutritions jellies, for stiffening 

 purposes, and for vaniishing. G, teyiax may be similarly used. Giacilaiia 

 (Plocaria) Helminthocorton is Corsican iloss. (See Lauiencia.) It has been 

 used principally as a vermifuge, but its properties have been much overrated. 

 G. crassa (Ki-tsai) is cooked A\ith soy or vinegar in Cliina. It is also em- 

 ployed by the Chinese ladies to give a glossiness to theii- hair. 



Halidrys siliquosa contains nearly 6 per cent, of mannite. 



Hormosiphon arcticiis {Xostoc a)cticum), which is very common in the 

 Arctic regions, according to Berkley, " affords a mass of wholesome food, 

 which is far preferable to the Tripe de Roche (see Gyrophora), as it has none 

 of its bitterness or purgative quality." 



Ii'idcea edulis, as its name implies, is nutritious, and is sometimes used for 

 food in Scotland, <S:c. 



Laminaria.—L. sacchanna is remarkable for the large quantity of mannite 

 it contains, upwards of 12 per cent. Its young parts, mixed with those of 

 L. digitata, are eaten in Scotland, &c., under the name of Tangle. The latter 

 species also contains much mannite. Z. saccharina is called Seatape in 

 China, where it is used for food and other pm-poses. L. potatorum is also em- 

 ployed for food in Australia, and other species possess similar properties. 

 L. bulbosa, L. digitata, and L, saccharina are used to a very large extent for 

 manure and for the preparation of kelp. The latter is also frequently used 

 as an hygrometer. 



Laurencia.— L. pinnatifida is remarkable for possessing pungent pro- 

 perties. It is called Pepper-dulse in Scotland, where it is occasionally eaten. 

 Berkley says that L. obtusa forms the greater part of what is now sold in 

 the shops as Corsican iloss. (See Gracilaria.) L. papulosa (Tan-shwui) 

 is extensively employed in China and Japan in the preparation of a gela- 

 tinous substance called Yang-Tasi. 



Xostoc. — N. edule is eaten in China, k,c. Other species possess similar 

 properties. (See Hormosiphon arcticus.) 



Forphyra laciniata and P. vulgaris axe employed in the preparation of a 

 kind of sauce or pickle, which is termed Sloke, Slokan, or Laver. P. 

 vulgaris is eaten in China as a relish to rice. It is termed Tsz-Tsai (purple 

 vegetable). 



Ehodomenia palmata is an article of food in Scotland, Ireland, Iceland, 

 &.C. It is the Dulse of the Scotch, and the Dillesk of the Irish. 



Sargassum.—S. bacciferum is the Gtilf-Weed of the Atlantic. This and 

 other species contain iodine, to the presence of which they owe their bene- 

 ficial effects in goitre, for which purpose stems of the S. bacciferum are 

 much employed in South America under the name of Goitre-sticks. 

 ■ 11 va latissima is employed in the preparation of Green Laver. It 1=: very 

 inferior to the laver prepared from the species of Porphyra. Both the/e 

 lavei-s might be beneficial in scrofulous ailections, &c., as they contain 

 iodine. 



Artificial Analysis of the Natural Orders in the Sub-class 

 Thallogesje. 



(The Numbers refer to the Orders.) 



1. Plants "R-ith a myceUum, gi'owing in or on decaying or 



living organic matter, and fructifying in the air . Fungi. 294. 



2. Plants without a mycehiun. 



Living and fructifying in the air .... Lichenes. 293. 

 Living in water, or in very moist situations . . Alga. 295. 



