FLORA HIBERNICA 



PART THIRD. 



ORD. 99. ALG^E. Juss. (Linn, part of.) Sea-weed Family. 



Cellular plants, growing with very few exceptions in water ; 

 very variable in form, texture, colour, and in the organs of fruc- 

 tification. Plant either a single cellule, or a number of cellules 

 united by their extremities into series, and thus forming simple 

 or branched filaments ; or by lateral as well as terminal cohe- 

 sion extended into membranes, which often assume a foliaceous 

 character; or formed into cylindrical fronds, -Texture either 

 gelatinous, membranaceous, cartilaginous, coriaceous, ligneous 

 or horny. Colour varying through every shade of red, green, 

 olive, brown, &c. Fructification : granules in various states of 

 perfection or arrangement, either dispersed over the whole 

 plant, or collected into little groups (sori) ; or contained in 

 distinct gelatinous receptacles, or membranaceous capsules, or 

 forming moniliform filaments. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE FAMILIES AND GENERA. 



J 



Div. I. MELANOSPERME^E. Plants marine, foliaceous, strap- 

 shaped, or filamentous, of an olive-brown or olive-green colour. 

 Fructification contained in definite capsules or receptacles, or in 

 distinct sori. 



TRIBE I. FUCOIDEA;. Plants coriaceous, robust, much branched 

 or leafy, mostly bearing vesicles ; structure fibrous* Fructifi- 



