Musæum regalis societatis, or, A catalogue and description of the natural and artificial rarities belonging to the Royal Society and preserved at Gresham Colledge made by Nehemiah Grew ; whereunto is subjoyned The comparative anatomy of stomachs and guts by the same author.

SECT. V. Of SEA-PLANTS.

CHAP. I. Of SHRUBS.

I Find, upon particular Observation, that of SEA∣SHRUBS there are two general kinds. Such as are strict∣ly woody, that is, have the colour and fibrosity of Wood, and burn and smell like Wood. And such as are, in a man∣ner, horny, or look, bend, burn and smell like Horn.

A WOODY SHRUB. Frutex marinus verè ligneus. 'Tis here cut off from the Root. About a foot in height, with four Branches spread out as broad, and cover'd with several thick Knobs of a sort of softish white Coral; the sides of which Knobs are a ¼ of an inch thick; the surface almost like that of Poppy-Seed.

ANOTHER, near a ••/4 of a yard high, as thick as the Ring-Finger, with white and hardish Incrustations upon the tops of its Branches. Any strong Acid droped on the said Crust, causeth an Effervescence: so that it seems to be a Coralline substance.

A THIRD, with the Branches broken, and without a Crust, three or four inches high, and as thick as the middle Finger.

A FOURTH, with the Branches also broken, and with∣out a Crust. 'Tis a small one; but hath a very large Root, curiously spread all over the backside of an Oyster-shell.

And it may here be observ'd, That the Roots not only of this, but almost all Sea-Shrubs, instead of being Rami∣fied, are spread out in the form of a Skin or Membrane, and so stick fast to some hard and steady Body as their Base.

Another slender one, about a ¼ of a yard high, but the Root broken off.

A FLAT WOODY SHRUB. Frutex M. ligneus, expan∣sus, ramulis coeuntibus. In all the former, the Branches are expanded every way: in this, only one way, or in breadth. 'Tis also of a softer substance, and more brittle. Of a Pur∣ple colour, almost like the woody part of Alkanet Root. Above ½ a foot high, and as broad. Several of the Branches united together, as in the Sea-Fan. Some of these Shrubs were found near the Straights of Gibraltar.

The Horny SHRUBS are also of two general kinds; either with the Branches loose; or else united together.

A great tall HORNY SHRUB with LOOSE BRAINCHES. Frutex Corneo-ligneus major erectior solutis Ramulis. 'Tis above a yard and ½ high. Consisteth of five or six principal Branches, equal to a Tobacco-Pipe-Stalk where thickest; having scarce any callateral ones. Bends like Whalebone, and both without and within, looks not unlike to that, or Black-Horn. And in like manner, curles, huffs or swells, and stinks in burning. The Root cut off.

ANOTHER of the same, ¼ of a yard high, and more branched.

A THIRD, with more numerous Branches than the former. Cover'd with a very thick, but soft Incrustation; originally of a Purple colour, but now for the most part turned brown; curiously perforated, as it were with Pin∣holes, all round about. Probably the foundation of one sort of perforated Coral.

A great ARBORESCENT HORNY SHRUB. Half a yard High, and a foot in breadth, being spread in the form of an Oak, with great Branches about as thick as a mans Thumb. The Stock, six or seven inches in compass. The Root spread upon a stony Base, and of a brown colour. The Branches black both without and within; and swell, or huff, and stink, like Horn, in burning.

ANOTHER, spread also, in part, as a Tree. Half a yard high, and near as broad. Of a blackish colour; and stinks a little in burning; but swells not. Cover'd with a very thick, but soft purple Crust. To several of the Branches are also curiously fasten'd the WOMBS or NESTS of a certain Insect, as big as a Horse-Bean, of a roundish figure;

within, whitish, smooth and glossy; without, cover'd with the said soft and purple Crust.

A small HORNY SHRUB with LOOSE Branches. The Root is curiously spread upon a Stone like a thin skin. The Trunk of a yellowish brown, and thick as an Oaten straw, divided into slender Twiggs, to about a foot in height; flexible, and having a soft and white Pith. Being burnt, they not only send forth a very stinking smoke, but also swell into a light and spongy Cynder, just like that of Whale-bone, Cow-Horn, Leather, or other like Animal-Body. Most of them are cover'd with a soft ash-colour'd Crust. Neither Oil of Vitriol, nor any other, except a Nitrous Acid, droped upon this Crust, causeth an Effervenscence. Which shews the Salt therein contained, to have affinity with that in the stones bred in Animals.

TWO more small HORNY and incrustated Shrubs.

TWO more, growing together on a stony Base, not Incrustated.

A FLAT, HORNY SHRUB, with LOOSE Branches. Frutex Corneo-ligneus, expansus, solutis Ramulis. In all the former, the Branches were expanded every way: in this, only one way, or in breadth. The Root spread like a Membrane, upon its Base, as in the former. 'Tis near ½ a foot high, and almost ¼ broad, shaped not unlike a Fea∣ther-Fan, formerly in use. The Trunk ¼ of an inch over, divided into a great number of Branches round, black, smooth, somewhat flexible, and having a Pith. In burning they huff and stink, as the former. Cover'd with a soft and ash-colour'd Crust, all over knobed with little Vesicles, which are sometimes perforated.

ANOTHER, more tall, and with both a White or Grey, and Red Crust; not on the same but several Branches. The former, knobed; the other, as it were daubed upon the Branches. Given by Sig^r. Boccone, and by him also figur'd.

ANOTHER of these growing Double, or divided next the Root into two spreading and parallel Bodies.

A flat HORNEY SHRUB, with more NUMEROUS Branches. About a foot broad, and near as high. Rooted in a kind of Brain-stone. Without any Crust. The Branches, as more numerous, so slender, longer, and more flexible, so as to be somewhat bearded.

ANOTHER, with less numerous Branches, and SEMI∣PERSPICUOUS, if held up against the light. Above a foot high, and ¼ broad. It neither huffs nor stinks so much in burning, as do the former.

A Flat HORNY SHRUB with COLLATEARAL Branches. Frutex corneo-ligneus filiciformis, So I name it. In all the former, the Branches are reciprocal, or not of equal height on both sides the great Stemm: in this, just opposite, as in a Feather or Branch of the Male-Firne. Near a foot high, and five inches broad. The small or side Sprigs are round, as in all the former. But the middle Stemm is flat. Both This and the others, Semiperspicuous. They stink in burning, but swell not. Cover'd with a soft, purple, knobed, and perforated Crust.

ANOTHER large one, with two middle Stems, but all the side Branches broken off. In height ½ an Eln. The Root of a light and skinny substance, spread abroad so, as to make six inches compass.

ANOTHER not so tall as the former, (about a foot high) but the middle Stems thicker. The collateral Branches here also broken off.

Another small one: but with the Root curiously spread upon its stony Base, like a thin smooth Leafe. Most of these flat Shrubs grow in the Mediterranean-Sea.

A Flat SHRUB with UNITED Branches. Frutex ex∣pansus, Ramulis coeuntibus. 'Tis a foot high, and ½ a yard broad. Divided reciprocally into severally Branches, con∣taining a Pith. In all the foregoing, the Branches are all loose or separate; in this, some of the smallest meet in one; as Inosculated Veins, or as the Fibers in the Leaves of Plants. Of a blackish colour, and somewhat fetid upon burning. Cover'd with an ash-colour'd, soft, and knobed Crust.

ANOTHER, with the Branches and Conjuctions much more numerous, so as to make very close Work. Near a foot high, and almost as broad. Stinks in burning, and is cover'd with a knobed Crust, as the former.

A Great SEA-FAN. Frutex m. maximus, RETICULATUS, s. Flabellum marinum maximum. In the two former, only some, here all the Ramifications are united, so as to make one entire piece of Net-work, in the shape of a Fan. 'Tis above ¼ of a yard high, and almost a yard and ½ broad.

The Root wonderfully spread upon its stony Base. For being extended every way, some of its Skirts meet under∣neath, and so embrace it round about. The Branches of a blackish brown, and swell and stink, like Horns, in burn∣ing. Cover'd with a soft Crust, originally Purple, but now for the most part faded into an ashen colour.

ANOTHER large SEA-FAN, ¼ of a yard high, and ½ an Eln broad. Incrustated as the former. It hath this pe∣culiar, sc. out of the sides of it, grow several other small Fans, about a ¼ of a yard long (more or less) and near as broad.

TWO more large SEA-FANS, above ½ a yard high, and as broad. Incrustated as the former. Of one of these Fans, and about this bigness, see an elegant Figure in Calceo∣larius's Musaeum. a

THREE Midling SEA-FANS, near ½ a yard broad, and a foot high. Incrustated as the others.

THREE small SEA-FANS. Two of them are a ¼ of a yard high, and as broad. The Third, is less. Yet hath several little netted Labels growing on the side. All three incrustated, as before.

A SEA-FAN with CLOSE Net-work. Whereas the former consisted of more open work; as by comparing even a lesser of those herewith, is apparent. Neither hath this any Crust. 'Tis ½ an Eln high, and a foot broad. Seve∣ral of the smaller Ramification, thin or flat, sc. transversly to the breadth; looking like little Splinters of Whalebone. In burning, it swells, and stinks, as the others.

ANOTHER of the same, but not above a foot high, and near half as broad. This also is naked or without any Crust, as the former. Most of these Fans grow in the Ame∣rican-Ocean.

Wormius, speaking of Sea-Shrubs b hath this passage,—Mirum profectò, quomodo hujus generis vegetabilia ex ijs (saxis puta) nutrimentum trahere valeant. Whereas 'tis plain, That they receive no nourishment from them, but the Sea-Water, and such nutritive Bodies wherewith it is impregnated. And it is therefore observable, That although the Trunk and Branches of these Shrubs are of a close and dense sub∣stance; yet their Roots are always made soft and spongy (especially when recently gather'd) the better to imbibe

their Aliment. So that the use of the Stone, or stony Body, on which they stand, is only to be a Base to keep them steady, and in the most convenient posture for their growth.

These, and other Sea-Plants hereafter describ'd, stinking, as is said, like Horns, in burning, and some of them not un∣easily procur'd, it may be worth the Trial; Whether in Hysterical, Epileptick, or other like Cases, they may not prove more effectual, than Animal Bodies.

CHAP. II. Of other SEA-PLANTS, and of SPONGES.

THe HORN-PLANT. Tuba marina; as it may be called from its form. 'Tis about two yards and ¼ high. At the bottom, not two inches about; from whence it grows thicker all the way to the top, where it is seven inches in compass, and of an Oval Figure. Hollow quite through from the top till within about two feet of the bot∣tom. The sides no thicker than a Hazle-Nutshell. Not woody, but tough, like the young Barque of a Tree, or a piece of tan'd Leather; and within, of a like colour; but black without. It grows in the West-Indian Ocean. The Indians cut off the top and so much of the small end as is solid, and lining the inside with a sort of Glew, or of Lacker, make themselves Horns hereof either for Hunting, or other use.

A Tuft or Bunch of CORALLINE. Described and figur'd by most Botanicks. I add (what I think is unnoted) That the inward part of this Plant i•• truly Ligneous or Fi∣brous: the outward, from when 〈◊〉〈◊〉 its Name, being only a Crust growing upon it, as in the Shrubs above described. 'Tis esteemed an excellent Remedy against Worms.

FLAT CORALLINE, as it may be called, or Spangle-Wort. Described in Bauhinus a by the Name of Opuntia marina. By Ferranti Imperato, b with the Name of Serot∣lara. It consisteth wholly of Leaves, joyned edge to edge, as in the Indian-Fig; Somewhat round, and scallop'd, and not

much bigger than a silver Spangle. The inward part of the Leaves is fibrous, and by small woody Threds are tacked together. But, as in Coralline, covered all over with a white Crust; which, in like manner, makes a strong Effervescence with Acid liquors.

The BEARDED SEA-WRACK. Fucus capillaris tincto∣rius, s. Roccella. Figur'd in Imperatus; a And out of him, in Bauhinus. b But without a Description. Neither will it admit an exact one, now dry. 'Tis three inches and ••/•• high; and five or six about. The Root, in compass, two inches, one in height, divided into a great number of small capillary Branches or Sprigs, thick set, as in a Broom or Beard, very brittle, and of a faded Purple. It grows in the East-Indies. Of excellent use, especially heretofore, for the making of Tinctures both for Painting and Deying.

A sort of the common SEA-Wrack, called Alga Vitra∣riorum.

The BLADDER'D SEA-WRACK. Alga Vesicaria s. conifera, as it may be called; having on the tops of its Branches several Conick Bags, an inch, or an inch and 1/•• long, warted round about, and originally fill'd with a light and fuzzy substance.

The WARTED SEA-WRACK. Fucus verrucosus Impe∣rati. c On which grow a great many vesicular and soft Knobs all along the Branches, as well as on the top.

The BROADEST SEA-WRACK. Alga latissima Mem∣branacea. The Root hereof, stringy. The Stalk, round, as thick as a Goose-Quill, and about five inches high. From thence 'tis spread, by degrees, into a thin Skin too inches and ••/•• broad.

ANOTHER of the same Species, but not so broad.

The POUNCED SEA-WRACK. Alga marina 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Bauhino. Poro Cervino, Imperato. 'Tis wholly distributed into flat Branches, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of an inch broad, almost after the manner of a Stags Horns. Of a russet colour, and as it were all over pounced, somewhat after the manner of a Rue-Leaf, or that of St. Johns Wort, when held up against the light.

The SPIRAL SEA-WRACK. It winds about, very curiously, with a great many Circumvolutions, almost like a very deep Skrew. Described, figur'd, and given by Sig^r. Boccone. d

The SEA-MILFOYLE. Myriophyllum pelagium. s. Mus∣cus maritimus silicis folio. Clusius hath a Figure somewhat answerable to this Title, and out of him Bauhinus. Yet either it is faulty, or of another Species. His, represented with alternate Branches. Here, they are collaternal, as in the Male-Firne. And curiously denticulated, in the like man∣ner. It grows in very deep Gulfs of the Sea.

This Plant hath the same odd property, with several of the Sea-Shrubs before described; which is, that being fired, it makes a strong stinking smoak, like that of burnt Bones, Horns, or other parts of Animals. And may therefore be deservedly commended by Cortusus against Worms. And 'tis probable, all the rest of the stinking kind, some of which are much more plentiful and easily procur'd, may have the like Virtue.

The STEM of another Sea-Plant, Perhaps of affinity with that in Bauhinus, entitled, Coralloides lenta foeniculacea. The several Sprigs hereof are toothed, as in the Sea-Mil∣foyle, but with finer or smaller Work. It stinks, upon burn∣ing, as the former.

SEA-HEATH. Erica marina. Described and figur'd in Bauhinus. Who yet omits the coalition of all the Branches in a round and plain Base.

SEA-MOSSE, somewhat like the Sea-Heath. The Branches hereof are united in a short Trunk. From whence they rise up to the height of three or four inches, and are then multipli'd into others. About the thickness of a small Rush, all over shaggy, with fibrous hairs or bristles. Hath a stinking smoak, as the former.

The BEARDED SEA-MOSSE. A Congeries of tough or pliable, yellowish, capillary Threds or Strings, almost cylindrical, or of the same thickness from the bottom to the top; where the most part of them are as it were horn∣ed or forked. It makes a crackling noise, in burning, and stinks, but less than the Sea-Milfoyle.

The FISTULAR SEA-MOSSE. Bauhinus describes a Sea-Plant (without a Figure) by the Name of Fucus cavus, but of a quite different kind; sc. with the Leaves like a Fillet. Whereas this is a Cluster or Brush of cylindrical, pellucid, and strait unbranched Pipes, about the thickness of a great stitching Needle.

SEA-BLOBBER. Vesicaria marina. Spuma Maris Caesal∣pino. Bauhinus describes two sorts, That, which is branched; and This, which is not. 'Tis a Cluster of small roundish Bladers, almost in the shape of little Oystershells; of a light brown colour, all over veined with Fibers, like the uter Cover of a Plumstone. Which makes it the more doubt∣ful, whether it be an Animal Body, or a Vegetable. Which soever, it is supposed the Matrix of a Sea-Infect.

Another CLUSTER of the same sort, but consisting of smaller Bladders.

The ROPED SEA-BLADDER. I find it no where men∣tion'd. This is also wrought with fibrous Veins, as the for∣mer. But the Bladders are of a different shape, not with convex, but flat and parallel sides, and the Fibers princi∣pally running along and near the edges. Neither are they cluster'd in a lump, but joyn'd together, one after another, with a Ligament of the same substance, almost like a Rope of Onions; saving that they are all on one side. They stink, upon burning; supposed to be the Matrix of those Shells whereof the Indians make a sort of Money, which they call Wampanpeage.

A GREAT SPONGE, of the common kind; of a flat Oval Figure, and almost a yard and half in compass.

The SHAGGY-SPONGE. Spongia Villosa. It hath no re∣gular shape. Of a Texture more rare, than of most if not all the other kinds. And with small short capillary Fibers, as it were shagg'd all round about.

The FUNEL-SPONGE. Spongia Infundibularis. De∣scribed in some sort by Clusius, and from him by Wormius. Figur'd by Bauhinus, without a Description. This here is two inches and ½ in height; the Rim, near three inches over. The sides about 1/••^th of an inch thick. Of a Tex∣ture far more compact and close, than the common Sponge. Yet the Surface all over wrought with little round Pores, almost as in a Poppy-Seed: in some places visible to the naked eye, but better through a Glass. On the inside, they are in some places a little bigger, and near the Rim disposed into short Rays. Its Base, instead of a Root, as in Sea-Shrubs, is spread out upon a hard stone, to a con∣siderable breadth.

The Little BRANCHED SPONGE. Of much alike

Texture and colour with the common kind. But finely rising up and distributed into several Branches, solid or not hollow, about ¼ of an inch over, like a sprig of Coral. Given by Sig^r. Boccone.

The BRUSHY-SPONGE. This also is branched, and the Branches not hollow. But much more numerous. The Trunk somewhat dense, two inches high, and thick as a Goose-Quill. Divided into three principal Branches, and these into about thirty more of the same thickness with the Trunk it self, two or three inches long, perforated with some larger pores, as the Funel-Sponge, and near their tops, a little flat, and forked.

The CATSTAIL-SPONGE. This also is ramify'd, sc. into three large Branches, not hollow, rising up strait, and im∣mediately from the Root, to a foot in height; below, ½ an inch over; at the top an inch, not unlike the Head of the Typha major, or a Cats-Tayle. To these, three other lesser Branches are appendent. All of them of a blackish colour, and a rare Texture, but the Fibers somewhat more thick and stubborn, than in the common sort, and so woven, as to make some larger superficial Pores. The Root or Base is spread out upon a stone. The Ramous Sponges are sometimes found about the Islands of Fero.

The HOLLOW CONICK SPONGE. About a quar∣ter of a yard high, and half a yard about. It consisteth of fistular Branches, of a Conick Figure, rising higher and higher, smooth within, without porous, and as it were a little jagged.

The HOLLOW CYLINDRICK or PIPE-SPONGE. From the Base rise up four or five Pipes, above an inch over, smooth within, and tuberated without, with some re∣semblance to the Corallium Verrucosum. Its Texture some∣what closer, than of the common Sponge.

The FLAT HOLLOW SPONGE. Near five inches high. Below, above two inches broad; above, more than three. Consisteth of two flat yet hollow pieces, above four inches deep; but without, distinct for the space only of an inch and ½. Within also smooth, and without tuberated, as the former, but more bluntly.

All Sponges stink, more or less, upon burning, as the

Horny Sea-Shrubs. So that it is a property belonging to most of the Vegetable Productions in the Sea.

It is the Opinion of some, that Sponges have sense, be∣cause said to shrink, if they are pluck'd; and are therefore reckon'd amongst Zoophyta. But of that property I doubt very much. For a Sponge being a springy Body, and so extensible, and yielding a little to one that plucks at it; so soon as he lets his hold go, it will, from its elasticity, shrink up again. Which motion of restitution, some probably, have mistaken for the effect of a Cap-Sense.

No Sponge hath any Lignous Fibers, but is wholly com∣pressed of those which make the Pith and all the pithy parts of a Plant. Yet vastly thicker, and their Texture much more rare or open, so as to be visible to a good eye, espe∣cially assisted with an ordinary Glass. So that a Sponge, in stead of being a Zoophyton, is but the one half of a Plant.

Notes

• a

  Sect. 1.
• b

  Mus. l. 2. c. 35. at the end.
• a

  Lib. 39. c. 30. and figur'd.
• b

  Lib. 27.
• a

  Lib. 27.
• b

  Lib. 39.
• c

  Lib. 27.
• d

  De Plan∣tis Rariorib. p. 70. Tab. 38.