FUCACEiE. 45 



tification in elongated, pointed receptacles, at the tips of 

 the branches. 



This plant is one of the most recent additions to our 

 list of native Sea-weeds. It was discovered by Professor 

 Harvey and Mr. N. P. Ward, at Kilkee, Ireland, in 

 July, 1863, and was at first considered to be identical 

 with the Linnsean species F. disiichus. Subsequent ex- 

 amination and comparison with European specimens of 

 the latter plant, established the fact that it was a dis- 

 tinct species, which had not been previously described, 

 and it has, therefore, been duly installed as F. anceps, 

 " Harvey and Ward." I dare hardly hope that many 

 young collectors will be so fortunate as to secure this 

 rarity; but those who may do so, will readily distin- 

 guish it from F. canalicwlatus , which is the only Bri- 

 tish Fucus which it externally resembles, by its flat un- 

 channelled stem, and long, tapering receptacles. The 

 ' Journal of Botany' for 1863 contains a full description 

 of this plant, by Mr. W. Carruthers, and a capital plate 

 by Mr. Fitch. 



Genus VI. HIMANTHALIA. 



Eoot a small disc. Frond, in its young state, a pear- 

 shaped sac, quickly becoming a button, at first fiat-topped 

 and hollow, then concave and solid. Fructification in long, 

 linear, repeatedly forked receptacles, springing from the 

 centre of the frond. 



It is not easy to determine the exact derivation of the 

 name of this plant. The Greek word imas, a strap, 

 furnishes the first part, but it is doubtful whether the 

 remainder is derived from thalos, a branch, or als or 

 thalassa, both of which mean sea. The English name 



