Gelidium.] ALG.E RHODOSPERMEJE. 203 



sembling the primary frond ; capsules sessile, wrinkled. Hook. 

 Br. Ft. v. ii. p. 303. Fucus rubens, Linn. Turn. Hist. t. 12. 

 E. Bot. t. 1053. 



Rocky shores, not uncommon. Belfast ; Dr. Drummond. West 

 of Ireland, very common, where it reaches a large size. Fronds 2 8 

 inches longs of a dull full red colour. 



48. SPH^ROCOCCUS. Stackh. Sphserococcus. 



Frond cartilaginous, compressed, two-edged, linear, distich- 

 ously branched. Fruct. : mucronate capsules, containing a 

 mass of ovate, shortly pedicellate, red seeds. Grev. Name ; 

 a(paipa, SL sphere or globe, and KOKKOS, fruit ; the capsules are 

 globose. 



1. S. coronopifolius, Ag. Swine s-cress leaved Sph&rococcus. 

 Frond cartilaginous, much branched in a distichous and alter- 

 nate manner, compressed and two-edged below, nearly flat up- 

 wards ; the branches acute at the apex ; capsules sphaerical, 

 mucronate in little stalks fringing the smaller branches. Grev. 

 Hook. Br. Fl. v. ii. p. 304. Fucus coron. Turn. Hist. t. 122. 

 E. Bot. t. 1478. 



Sea-shores, not rare. Bantry ; Miss Hutchins. Belfast ; Mr. 

 Templeton arid Dr. Drummond. Miltown Malbay ; W. H, Harvey. 

 4 8 inches long, bright red, becoming darker in drying. 



49. GELIDIUM. Lamour. Gelidium. 



Frond between cartilaginous and horny, compressed, linear, 

 more or less regularly pinnated. Fruct. : 1. Capsules, im- 

 bedded in the substance of the ramuli, containing a mass of 

 minute roundish seeds; 2. ternate or otherwise compound 

 granules in the ramuli, on distinct individuals. Grev. Name, 

 in allusion to the gelatinous nature of some species when 

 macerated. 

 1. G. corneum, Lamour. Horny Gelidium. Frond between 



cartilaginous and horny, nearly flat ; distichously branched ; 



branches linear, attenuated at each end, pinnate and bipinnate ; 



pinnules mostly opposite, patent, obtuse, bearing within their 



apices elliptical capsules. Grev. Hook. Hook. Br. FL v. ii. 



p. 305. Fucus corneus, Turn. Hist. t. 257. E. Bot. t. 1970. 



Rocky coasts, everywhere. A most variable plant, of which fifteen 

 distinct varieties are enumerated as natives of our shores. The most 

 remarkable of these is the var. latifolium of Dr. Greville, which is not 

 uncommon at Miltown Malbay. In this the main stem is very broad, 

 (1 2 lines,) quite flat, and more or less bipinnate ; the ultimate /?in- 

 very short ; colour a bright rose-red. 



