LAMINARIA. 



49 



gegments, something like the fingers of a 

 hand. 



I may as well mention here, that the sea- weeds 

 have no real root, and do not derive their nourish- 

 ment from the soil, as do the plants of earth ; 

 they adhere to the rocks or stones by simple 

 discs, and draw their whole subsistence from the 

 water that surrounds and sustains them. In the 

 so-called root of the Laminaria there are no root- 

 fibres, but a succession of discs, each connected 

 with the main stem of the plant by a woody 

 cable. 



The stem of the Laminaria is very strong, and 

 is used for making handles to knives and other 

 implements. When fresh, this stem is soft enough 

 to permit the tang of a knife-blade to be thrust 

 longitudinally into it. A portion of the stem 

 sufl&ciently long for the knife-handle is cut off, 

 and in a few months it dries, contracting with 

 such force as to fix the blade immovably; and 

 having much the consistency and appearance of 

 stag's horn. One good stem will furnish more 

 than a dozen of these handles. 



Among the Laminarise may be seen growing a 

 singular plant, more like a rope than a vegetable. 

 It consists of one long, cylindrical, tubular frond, 

 hardly thicker than an ordinary pin at the base, 

 E 



