MAEINE BOTANY. 69 



The favourite locality of the medicinal coral is pools or 

 rocks between tide-marks ; while its brother, the scaly- 

 coral, is seen on submarine rocks at the extremity of low- 

 water mark throughout the southern coasts of England. 

 Miltown Malbay, Youghal, in the west of Ireland, and 

 Jersey, are its frequent growing -places, and in these it 

 attains a full development, being readily distinguished 

 from the medicinal, chiefly by the construction of the upper 

 joints of the stem and branches, which are broad and flat, 

 with prominent and usually sharp angles. 



Modern algologists have separated the Corallina corni- 

 culata, or little-horned coralline, from its brethren, and 

 given it the appellation of Jania corniculata, — Jania being 

 derived from Janera, one of the Nereides; and corniculata 

 from its peculiar construction. The species is generally 

 parasitic on smaller Algee in rock-pools between tide-mark, 

 and is found on the southern coasts of England and Ireland, 

 as also, in its wider range, throughout the shores of the 

 Atlantic and the Mediterranean. 



A separation has also been made with regard to the 

 Griffithsia corallina, or coral-like Grifflthsia, of which the 

 generic name is given in honour of Mrs. Griffiths. This 

 most beautiful, and yet not very uncommon plant, can 

 hardly fail to attract the notice of those who study the 

 marine Flora. Hence it was figured by Dillenius among 

 the few ocean plants which he has preserved. Linnseus 

 also, in his wanderings along the shores of the Arctic 

 regions, was often cheered by the sight of its clear red- 

 beaded fronds. 



Pleasingly associated with the name of Icolmkill, is the 

 Melohesia polymorpha, or diversified Melobesia ; a species of 

 coral which grows best on submarine rooks, and in quiet 

 bogs, and is yet so abundant in the Orkneys as to warrant 

 the conclusion that it might be advantageously employed 

 for agricultural purposes, and for building, especially as 

 limestone is scarce, and generally of bad quality, in the 



