MARINE BOTANY. 21 



Striking instance of the effect produced by dissimilar loca- 

 tions. When growing in deep water, beyond the reach of 

 tides, it constitutes Fucus discors of marine botanists, 

 especially if gathered during the summer months, at which 

 season it is extremely luxuriant, with broad leaves and 

 large air-vessels, while the same species, when developed in 

 shallow tide- pools, and collected either late in autumn or in 

 winter, is more branched, and has narrower leaves. Hence 

 the name of Fucus abrolanifolius, or branched fucus : but 

 on the depth of water, or difference of season, depend solely 

 the distinguishing characters of both. 



Not less worthy of remark is the Granulated Cystoseira 

 (C. granulata.) This shrub-like plant produces a beautiful 

 effect in its rocky basin — seen at one time through clear 

 sparkling water, at another left uncovered by the tide. 

 Those who know little concerning its specific character, may 

 yet readily distinguish the granulated cystoseira by the 

 knob-like basis of its branches, and though growing in a 

 scattered manner, it is occasionally gregarious. Like others 

 of the genus, its stems afford a welcome resting-place to 

 various marine animals, with corallines and sponges, and 

 parasitic sea-weeds, and are, in consequence, often covered 

 with thick incrustations of animal life. Rare it is to find a 

 clean-stemmed cystoseira ; and however annoying this may 

 be to the collector of specimens, the admirer of nature, when 

 looking into a clear tide-basin, under a favourable light, 

 rejoices in the picturesque beauty produced by a cystoseira 

 grove, of which the brilliant colours and starry forms re- 

 semble clusters of flowers peeping from out the branches. 



Portland, with its rushing waves, and that wild beach on 

 which the tumbling billows often resemble a belt of molten 

 silver, reveals among its sunken rocks the beautiful Heath- 

 like Cystoseira [Cystoseira ericoicles), which reflects the most 

 beautiful rainbow tints as its branches wave to and fro. 

 This iridescent plant grows also on the coasts of Devonshire 

 and Cornwall, and is remembered in connection with many 



