Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/220

49 THE

Natural History

OF

JAMAICA

BOOK 1.

OF THE

Plants of JAMAICA

Chap. 1.

Of Submarine Plants.

Those growing in the Seas about Jamaica, may be divided into such as are of a stony Substance, as Corals, under which are comprehended Pores, stony Mushromes, etc. those of a woody, or horny and tough Substance, with a coralline Incrustation; and those of a herbaceous or soft consistence, as the Fuci; but they have this common, that all of them smell very fishy, or strong of the Sea.

They are likewise saltish to the Tast, and for the most part, upon drying, there sticks to them a White Substance, chiefly made up of Sea-Salt; and from this Concretion, or rather Salt, (without the addition of any Alkali) sticking to the Leaves of the Delisk (the humid parts of the Salt-water being evaporated) it is that that Plant is made delightful to the Irish Palats.

Most of these Plants vary very much in their Colours, not only those Sea-Shrubs, which have incrustations over them, when in their Maturity or State, being sometimes Purple, or White on the same Branch; but like wise, being thrown on Shore by the Waves, dashing against Stones, etc. they lose some, most, or all of their Crust, and change their Face extremely White as Snow, if they have lain on Shore, exposed to the injuries of the Air, and dashing of the Sea, for some time.