430 ACOTYLEDONES — FUNGI. 



on immersion in water : but tliat portion of the plant only im- 

 bibes the fluid which is covered by it — 



Div. I. Inarticulate. Foliaccous, spreading or filiform, 

 inarticulate (or rarely and onlij apparcntlj jointed), vol. ii, p, 



250) Sargassum, a genus found floating upon some seas in 



such abundance as to impede the progress of vessels. Fucus. 

 F. nodostis, F. vesiculosus, F. serratus, and F. loreus, are of 

 great importance in the manufacture of Kelp. Alaria es- 

 ciilenta, and Laminaria saccharina are frequently eaten upon 

 our northern shores and in other countries. Delesseria, 

 NiTOPHYLLUM and others of the 1st Tribe Floridee, are re- 

 markable for their delicate texture and bright red or rose colours. 

 Rhodomexia palmata is the true Dulsei; Iridtea edidis is the 

 Pepper Dulse. Many, if not all of the Fucoidee contain Iodine 

 in a state of hydriodate of Potash or Soda, and there is a large 

 establishment in Glasgow where it is prepared. Ulva latis- 

 sima and U. Lactuca are eaten under the name of Laver. 



Div. II. Confer VOIDED. Filamentous, reallij or apparenthj 

 articulated, destitute of definite gelatine. To this division belong 

 the extensive genus Conferva, tlie singular Oscillatori^e, 

 inhabitants of fresh-water ; and the beautiful genera Polysi- 

 PHONiA, CERABiiuiM, Griffithsia, &c., peculiar to the sea. — 

 vol. ii. p. 259. 



Div. III. GloiocladEjE. Plajits consisting of numerous glo- 

 bules or filaments, invested ivith a definite gelatine and forming 

 globose or filiform fronds. The Red-snow of arctic navigators is 

 Protococcus 7iivalis. — Mesogloia, Echinella, Nostoc, &c. vol. 

 ii.j9.261. 



Div. IV. DiATOMACEE. A curious but minute tribe, perhaps 

 of animal rather than vegetable structure: — composed of compressed 

 angular granides (frustula) aiTanged in parallel series or circles, 



eventually separating from each other Fragilaria. Diatoma. 



Cymbella, &c. vol. ii. p. 262. 



Ord. CVI. FUNGI. The lowest in the scale of vegetables, 

 yet very variable in appearance ; growing upon the ground, or 

 parasitic on other vegetable substances ; rarely, if ever, aquatic^ 

 and scarcely ever green : filamentous, gelatinous, corky, coria- 

 ceous, fleshy or membranaceous. In tiie larger sense of the 

 word, the whole plant may be considered a?, fructification ; since, 

 distinct from it, there is no true stem ; there are no branches ; 

 no leaves. After being once dried, they do not revive by the 

 application of moisture like the greater number of plants in this 

 Class ; and generally speaking, tliey are of a very short dura- 

 tion, soon decaying, and frequently becoming putrid in decay. 

 Some are Fleshy Fungi, bearing seeds or sporules, externally. — 

 Agaricus. — A. muscarius ; pileus orange-red or brown, at 



