Thong Fucus.
C R Y P T O G A M I A Alga.
G e n . C h a r . Seeds pro d u ced in cl uttered tubercles,
which b u rft a t th e ir lum mits.
S p e c . C h a i i . Frond repeatedly forked, comprefled,
acute, fmooth, fprinkled with tubercles on each
fide.
Syn. F ucus loreus. Linn. Syjt. Feg. Ed. 14. 968.
Hudf. 5 8 3 . With. v. 4 . 9 6 . Gooden. & Woodvj.
Tr. of Linn. Soc. v. 3 . 176.
F. elongatus. Linn. Sp. Pl. 1627.
F. longo angufto crafloque folio. Rail Syn. 43.
F . fungis affinis, Raii Syn. 43, in a young ftate.
T h i s F ucus is found growing upon fubmarine rocks on
the fouth coafl of England, and is thrown upoh the Yarmouth
beach by very ftrong eafterly winds only, in the winter months,
during which it is in fruit. Hence Mr. D. Turner, from whom
we received fpecimens, juftly concludes it not to be really a
native of our Norfolk fhores, more efpecially as F. ovalis and
firticulatus are found attached to its root, which are never feen
at Yarmouth otherwife.
The frond grows to the length of 3 or 3 yards or more, and
very much relembjes a leather thong, except in being repeatedly
dichotomous. Tubercles of feeds are fcattered over it on
both fides. The moft effential diftindtion of the fpecies con-
fifts in a dilated cup (like fome kinds of Peziza) which is firft:
formed, and from the centre of which the fronds grow out,
either folitary or in pairs, This is fufficiently ex prefled in our
figure. A variety mentioned in the Linn. Tranf. is fmaller,
generally narrower, lefs branched, and the angles of the
branches are more obtufe,
Mr. Turner obferves, that ( ( the frond is in the central part
“ pulpy, and full of capillary colourlefs entangled fibres, in-,
“ vilible without a microfcope. When this plant has been z
“ or 3 days out of the fea, a yellow mucus exudes from its
(e pores, fimilar to what Reaumur miftook for anthera; in F,
c‘ferratus and others. The feeds are difcharged in the fame
(i manner. F. loreus is a connecting link between Fucus and
“ Ulva, agreeing greatly in texture as well as fructification
f( with U. diapbana,”