SEAWEEDS. 



2Q9 



radiating ribbon-like lobes, of a purple colour. Its texture is 

 like that of parchment. It will be found parasitic upon the 

 stems of Fticus and Laminaria, at very low-water. A more 

 slender and ragged, thin textured species is Rhodymenia 

 jubata, with irregular outgrowths all along its edge, some of 

 these fringes developing into long lobes. Another species 

 that is also eaten as Dulse is the Iridea edulis, which glitters 

 with bluish iridescence when immersed. It has fronds about 

 six or seven inches long, expanding into a broad oval at the free 

 end, and thinning off to a wedge-shape at the base. It is rep- 

 resented in the illustration of the Prawn, on page 163. 



The Pepper Dulse (Laurencia pinnatifidd) is a much 

 smaller species, that grows abundantly in the pools and the 

 rocks around them, standing the repeated scorching-up when 

 the tide withdraws, as well as does the Channelled Fucus, 

 its companion. It roughly resembles a miniature Polypody 



fern, but of a purple colour. 



Another edible weed is the well- 

 known Irish Moss or Carrageen 

 (Chondrus crispus), which was in 

 such favour years ago as an inva- 

 lid's food. It is well shown in the 

 illustration, but is subject to great 

 variation, especially as regards 

 colour, ranging from greenish- 

 white, and yellow, to a dull purple. 

 In some of its forms it closely 

 resembles Gigartina mamillosa^ to 

 which it is not very distantly re- 

 lated, and the danger of confusing 

 the two is increased by Gigartina 

 often growing amongst Chondrus. 

 The tips of Gigartina 's frond, 

 however, are usually broader than 

 those of Chondms, and the frond 

 is rough, with little tubercles like 



