160 SEA-WEEDS. 



miniature green tree. They will not, however, 

 usually adhere to paper without the aid of gum. 



These plants belong to the group of grass-green 

 sea-weeds, the chlorosperms of the marine botanist. 

 They are found on the shore near high- water 

 mark, and in the shallow pools into which the 

 rising tide daily pours its liquid nutriment. They 

 are the sea-weeds which have the simplest struc- 

 ture, and are the least varied in species on various 

 shores ; and they form the chief marine vegetation 

 of the polar seas. Some of the green sea-weeds 

 are known to all who have observed the marine 

 plants on our rocky shores. 



The Ulvse, or Lavers, are flat green leaves, very 

 transparent, and easily torn, and when laid on 

 paper are scarcely thicker than gold-beater's skin. 

 The broad green Laver (Ulva latissima], is of a 

 bright, herbaceous tint, becoming tinged with 

 brown as it decays. It has a broad, ovate, plaited, 

 glossy leaf, and as it waves up and down in the 

 water is extremely elegant. It is sometimes 

 called green sloke, green laver, or oyster green. 

 Gerarde tells us whence it received its latter 

 name ; he says : " It is very well known even to 

 the poore oister women, who carry oisters to sell 

 up and down, who are greatly desirous of the said 

 mosse for the decking and beautifying of their 

 oisters to make them sell the better.' 5 These 

 leaves keep their green tint so well, that they 

 would indeed be highly ornamental to a fish- 

 basket, only that their thin texture prevents their 

 retaining the leaflike form. 



This laver is often brought to table as a stewed 

 sea-weed. Sir J. E. Smith remarks of it, that 

 within a few years past it has been " introduced 



