F U C U S ferratus.
Serrated Fucus or Sea Wrack.
Sp e c if ic C h a r . F U C U S . fro n d flat d ich o tom o u s r ib b ed fe r ra te -to o th ed : w ith
tu b e rc le s at the fummits co n ta in in g feeds.
FUCUS. fronde plana dichotoma coftata ferrato-dentata, veficulis terminalibus
tuberculofis. Linn. Syfi. Nat. Edit. Gmel. p. 1380.
Alga latifolia major dentata. Moiif. Hifi. p . 6r^%. S. 15. T. 9. F. i .— FI. Scot.
p. 902.— Gmel. Hifi.. Fucor. p. $7-
The ferratures on the margin o f this fucus render it very diftinft. In its origin and mode of
growth, it hardly differs from the F. veficulofus. The nerve in the centre of the frond, from the
fame caufe frequently acquires the ftem-like form, obfervable in the latter, but does not however appear
to poffefs its proliiic tendency, when the foliaceous part is broken off. The fummits in their
ripened ftate are tough, folid, and not inflated, neither do they contain any woolly fubftance. The
tubercles or pericarps are nearly o f an ovate form, and at firft feem fcarcely attached to the fides of
the fummit; * although in maturity feveral o f them are found clofely united to minute perforations in
the exterior furface o f the fucus. Thefe veffels confift of a callous fubftance, not much darker than
that in which they are imbedded, and contain feveral round grains, which are neither fo opaque, or
fo numerous as thofe before defcribed. The middle nerve in this, as well as in the Fucus veficulofus,
appeared to terminate precifely at the part where the fructifications commence : but it reached the extremity
o f the barren fummits.— The colour varies through feveral ihades o f olive and yellowifli-brown.
As both of the above plants grow to a very extenfive fize, it was judged better to delineate
a part o f their refpeftive branches, than a reduced figure o f each: efpecially as the defign o f
this plate, is merely to illuftrate the mode o f propagation, obfervable in many o f this genus.
Gmelin, in his defcription o f this fucus, obferves, that it is at all times deftitute o f veficles or air-
bladders ; and that the tubercles containing the feeds are imbedded in the furface o f the plant, and
not in bladder s.— The Fucus ceranoides is membranaceous, and never has been found with diftended
fummits.— Yet both thefe, are placed in the order which contains the vejicular fucufes. The character
o f this divifion feems to reft on an ambiguous definition, which at one time relates to the tubercles
only, as in the F. ferratus— at another time to the dijlended fummits, as in the F. canaliculatus— and
again to the veficles or air-bladders, properly fo called, and which occur in the frond o f the F. vefi-
culofus.
F U C U S canaliculatus.
FUCUS. fronde dichotoma integerrima canaliculata lineari ; tuberculis feminiferis,
apicibus tumidis, incluiis.
FUCUS. fronde plana dichotoma integerrima canaliculata lineari, veficulis tuberculatis
bipartitis obtufis. Linn. Syfi. Nat. Edit. Gmel. p. 138 1.— FI. Scot.
p. 9 1 7 .— Gmel. Hifi. Fucor. p. 73. tab. 1. A . f . 2.— F I dan. t. 214.
Canalis feu fulcus per alterum cujufque rami latus in longum duflus, hunc fucuin defignat. Frons
à duabus ad fex uncias faftigiaiim porrigitur, et infiftit bafi densa et coriacea, è quâ ftipites aliqui fi-
mul proccdunt ; horum quifque ramos in dichotoma ferie producit, qui ipfi fuâ vice fubdividuntur,
etbifidis apicibus haud raro terminantur. Fruriificatio, diftenfo'frondis apice nidulantibus, globofis
ct tenacibus abfolvitur tuberculis. In quibufdam horum ad maturitatem perduriis, quiddain punriu-
ræ adinftar apicis foramini accurate adaptatura nonnunquam cemendum eft. Hoc ideò ineffe videtur,
ut feminum difperfio faciliùs reddatur. Unumquodque tuberculum, grana pauca modò oblongo-ova-
la, modò ovata, colore caftaneo vel oliváceo, continet. Hic fucus primùm quidem olivaceo-flavefcens
per deficcationem nigrefcit demùm.
F U C U S canaliculatus.
Furrowed Fucus.
S p e c i f i c C h a r . FUCUS. frond dichotomous very entire, channelled, linear:
with tubercles containing feeds, included in the diftended fummits.
FUCUS. fronde plana dichotoma integerrima canaliculata lineari, veficulis tuberculatis
bipartitis obtufis. Linn. Syfi. Nat. Edit. Gmel. p. 13 8 1 .— FI. Scot.
p. 9 1 7 .— Gmel. Hifi. Fucor. p. 73. tab. 1. A . f . 2.— FI. dan. t. 214.
The diftinguiffiing chararier of this fucus, is a channel or furrow, paffing through every branch on
one fide, in a longitudinal direftion. The frond is from two to fix inches in extent, and has a com-
pa£l coriaceous bafe, from whence feveral branches fuddenly originate ; each one producing ftems,
in a dichotomous feries, which in their turn alfo are fubdivided, and frequently terminate with bifid
fummits. The plant has in general a faftigiate appearance.
The fruftification is fixed in the interior part o f the fwollen fummit, confifting o f tough elaftic globular
tubercles. In fome o f thefe when perferily mature, an appearance like a punflure, clofcIy fitted
to ihe perforation in the furface o f the frond, may fometimes be obferved, which feems defigned
to facilitate the difperfion o f the feeds.
Each tubercle contains feveral grains, either more or lefs in number. Thefe latter, notwithftanding
their minutenefs, vary as to their form, which is fometimes more or lefs ovate. The colour
of the grains is a bright chcfnut; and on fome iliores, a light olive-green.
The fucus, when frefii from the fea, has a yellowifh hue, which afterwards turns to a black.
I EXPL.