SECT. III. USES. 237 



decide, and which is likely long to baffle the re- 

 searches of the botanists. 



In the remaining genera of the Algee, the fruc- 

 tification is if possible still more obscure, exhibit- 

 ing no traces of stamens or pistils, or even of the 

 warts and saucers of the Lichens, but merely a 

 number of small granules, irregularly dispersed 

 throughout the substance of the plant, and extri- 

 cated only by its decay, which Hedwig presumes 

 to be seeds ; but which Gaertner regards also as a 

 peculiar species of gem, and designates by the 

 appellation of the Gongylus, describing it as being Or gongy- 

 a simple gem without leaves, of a globular form 

 and solid contexture, imbedded in the bark of the 

 plant and extricated only by its decay ; so that it 

 may very well be doubted whether the genera in 

 question do at all produce perfect seeds, or are pro- 

 pagated by any other means than that of gems. In 

 the Fuel the interspersed granules are said to have 

 a perforation above them, which the other genera 

 have not.* 



SECTION III. 



Uses. 

 THE utility of the Algae is obviously very con- In medi- 



_ ... cine and 



siderable, whether we regard them as furnishing the arts. 

 an article of animal food, or as applicable to me- 



* With. Arrang. vol. iv. p. 83. 



