principal segments, furnished throughout with alternate, distichous branches 
of various lengths, closely placed, with rounded axils. The smaller ranch es 
are pinnatifid, “the larger bi- or even tri-pinnatifid; the ultimate branchlets 
obtuse. In y, the frond is nearly cylindrical, 4-6 inches long, about half a 
line in diameter, of nearly equal breadth throughout, with a simple stem, 
furnished with priches eradually decreasing in length upwards, so that the 
outline is conical. These branches are not strictly distichous, and their 
ramuli, which are long, simple and very erect, are frequently inserted on all 
sides of the pinnze. 6, is one or two inches high, a line in width, tapering 
greatly to the base, bare of ramuli below, more or less pinnatifid or bi-pin- 
natifid above, the ultimate lacmize short. This variety almost always pro- 
duces in the tips of its ramuli urn-shaped or cup-shaped bodies (fig. 3. 4.), 
filled with branching, gelatinous, yellow filaments, the apex of one of which 
is represented at fig. 6, composed of minute cellules lying loosely together, 
with a row of larger cells running through the centre, and others resembling 
drops of oil at their tips. Fructification ; I, ovate capsules, seated on the 
ramuli, containing a tuft of pear-shaped spores; 2. triparted tetraspores, 
immersed in the surface cells of the ramuli. Colour varying, according 
as the plant grows in places exposed to the sun, or the contrary, from 
pale yellow, to greenish olive, olive-brown, and lurid-purple. Substance 
cartilaginous. 
Few of the marine Algee exhibit a ies variety of forms and 
sizes than the subject of this plate, which abounds on all the 
British shores, and is found in equal plenty along the coasts of 
the Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans, in the Tropical seas, and as far 
south as Cape Horn. It commences to grow nearly at gh 
water mark, covering the rocks with a stunted vegetation, of a 
yellowish, or livid green, scarcely larger than the neighbourmg 
Lichina pygmea, and continues, increasing in luxuriance with 
the increasing depth of water, down to the region of the Lam- 
nari, Where it reaches its highest developement, and perhaps 
extends to a greater depth. 
Among its varieties, the var. y, angusta, has most the look of a 
distinct species, and sometimes closely resembles L. ob/usa, but 
from that really distinct species it may be known by its colour, 
the more erect, alternate ramuli, and by its place of growth ; 
L. obtusa being a parasitic plant. This variety is chiefly found 
on loose stones, in gravelly places, and where fresh water runs 
into the sea. 
Laurencia pinnatijida has often, though not invariably, a hot 
and biting taste, and was formerly eaten in Scotland under the 
name of Pepper Dulse. It does not appear to have ever been in 
much repute, as an article of food, and its use is now rare. 
Fig. 1. LAURENCIA PINNATIFIDA, the Foul condition. 2. The variety e:— 
both of the natural size. 3. An wn- shaped, and 4, a cup-shaped body from 
the tips i var. «. 5. One of these laid open. 6. Part of a filament from the 
same. 7. Ramulus with capsules. 8. Tuft of spores. 9. Tetraspores in 
the aa 1). A tetraspore. 11. Longitudinal section of the stem. 
