F. csculentus : " The frond membranaceous, flat, mid ribbed, simple, ensiform, entire at its margins, supported upon a short, cylindrical, pinnated stipes ; !Minx fleshy, distichous, oblong, flat, nerveless, containing numerous, pyriform, immersed seeds."—This is called Badderlocks or Hen-ware on the east coast of Scotland ; and in the Ork ney islands, Honey-ware. ln Norway it is, by way of emi nence, styled tare or ware. It grows on rocks in pretty deep water, commonly in places where the tips of the fronds can reach the surface at ebb-tide. The stalk is generally from six inches to a foot in length ; and near its base oc curs a whot I of pinnx. The frond varies from six to twenty feet in length, with a mid-rib extending the whole way. The mid-rib, stripped of its membrane, is the part chiefly eaten; but in some places, particularly in Orkney, the pin nx arc also eaten, under the name of mirkles. Mr Turner mentions that these are likewise called keys, and are only brought to market when thick and fleshy, which is gene rally in August and September. In Norway the pinnx do not in general appear till the second year. \Vahlenberg states, that during the first year the stem is naked, but next year, while the greater part of the frond is destroyed, the stem swells in the middle ; from which swelling the pin nx proceed. At the Carr Rock in the Frith of Forth, the pinnx were visible not only the first year, but in plants only a very few months old ; and the rudiments of them were discernible in some which were only three or four inches long, and apparently but a few weeks sprung.
F. palmatus: " The frond is membranaceous, flat, nerve less, palmated, quite entire at the margin; segments ob long, mostly simple ; seeds naked, collected into wide, ir regularly shaped spots, scattered all over the frond."—This is the well-known dulse of the lowland Scots, and the liosg of the Highlanders. In Ireland it is called dillesk ; and it is there first washed in fresh water, and then dried in the sun, before being used. In this state it is often made up into rolls, and chewed like tobacco. The Icelanders call it sot. The Norwegians name it son-soell or sheep's weed, and Bishop Gunner has therefore adopted the name Focus ov'inus, observing that sheep and goats betake them selves in great numbers eagerly to the shore at ebb-tide to obtain this pleasant food. "Buy dulse and tangle," is one of the Edinburgh cries, tangle meaning the tender stalks and very young fronds of Fucus digitatus. Both are eaten recent from the sea, commonly without any preparation ; they are sometimes considered as forming a salad, but more generally are used as a whet. Dulse is now very seldom tried and brought to table. It is said, that the inhabitants of the Greek islands are fond of this species, adding it to ragouts and olios, to which it communicates a red colour, and at the same time imparts some of its rich and gelati nous qualities. The Dried leaves infused in water exhale an odour somewhat resembling that of sweet violets, and they communicate that flavour to vegetables with which they are mixed. Lightfoot mentions, that in the Isle of
Skye, in Scotland, it is sometimes used in fevers, to pro mote perspiration, being boiled in water with the addition of a little butter. Focus palmatus grows not uncommonly on rocks which are barely uncovered at the ebb of the tide ; but it is more frequent as a parasite on Focus nodosus ; and it occurs also on the stems of Fucus digitatus, attain ing in this situation a considerable size, perhaps twelve or fifteen inches long, while in general it is only about six or eight inches. It is soft and limber, and does not become rigid by drying, being of a more loose texture than many other sea-weeds.
F. crlulis. " The frond fleshy, flat, nerveless, simple, cuneiform, quite emire, rounded at the apex, attenuated at the base into a very short cylindrical petiolus ; solitary seeds scattered all over the frond."—This is not uncom mon in Scotland, and being thick and succulent when young, is frequently preferred to F. palmatus, especially for roast ing in the frying-pan. Like that species, it gives' out a smell somewhat resembling that of sweet violets. When fresh, it is of a deep opake blood-red colour; on macera tion, it gives out a purple dye. Old fronds of a large size, perhaps two feet in circumference, are sometimes cast ashore near Leith; these are of a dark colour, and very full of holes. These holes are supposed by the fishermen to be made by crabs, which, they assert, are very fond of this species.
F. ciliates.—" The frond between membranaceous and cartilaginous, flat, nerveless, generally lanceolate, branch ed in a pinnated manner, ciliated at its margins and sur face ; cilia mostly simple, patent, subulate producing tu bercles at their apices.''—This is not very common on our shores : it is sometimes, however, mixed with F. palma tus, and sold and eaten as dulse along with that species. It is distinguished not only by its cilia or fringes, but its fine red colour, and almost pellucid substance. It was former ly known by the names of F. lanceolatus, and holosetaceus.
F. pinnatf fidus. " The frond compressed, cartilaginous, branched, branches mostly alternate, doubly pinnatifid; ramuli blunt, callous ; capsules ovate, sessile, and naked seeds on the ramuli."--In Scotland, this is sometimes call ed Peliper-dulsc, from its hot biting taste in the mouth. On account of this quality, although its smell is not very pre possessing, it is sometimes eaten along with the common dulse. In Iceland, it is believed, it is still used in place of a spice. It appears to be an annual, and its pungency is considered as greatest in the early part of the summer. It is very common on all our shelving rocky shores, grow ing along with F. palmatus and crispus, and Corallina offi cinalis. It is subject to considerable variations, particu larly in colour; being frequently olive yellow, but some times tinged with red, or dark red, approaching to purple. It is somewhat curious that this species, w hich is common to Scotland and Iceland, should be found also in the Red Sea, and on the shores of Egypt.