THE MARINE BOTANIST. 37 



LAMINARTA DIGITATA- FINGER-CLEFT 

 LAMINARIA, OR '' SEA GIRDLES AND 

 HANGERS." 



Stem thick, solid, and woodj. It tapers a little 

 at top, then siiddenty expands into a frond of a foot 

 or more in breadth, which is again divided into a 

 number of strap-shaped segments. Root large and 

 fibrous, adheres to rocks and stones in deep water. 

 This plant, when taken out of the water, and held 

 by the stem, has been said to resemble a flag-staff 

 and flag, the latter cut horizontallj into strips. 

 The colour is an olive-green, and the substance of 

 the fronds is tough and leathery. The var. 

 StenopTiylla, pi. 338 Phyc. Brit., known under the 

 name of " Cuvy " in the Orkneys, appears a well- 

 marked variety. ^^ Whole plant dark brown ; 

 stipes slender, flaccid, glossy, becoming compressed 

 or flattened upwards; lamina wedge-shaped and 

 tapering at base, much longer than the stipe ; 

 digitate, its segments few, and very narrow." Under 



