disk ”) throws up several fronds composed of capillary
branches, sometimes above two feet long, and united at the
base to a short thick stem. The principal branches not
much thicker than a bristle; the second set of branches
smaller than the first, irregularly placed at moderate intervals
all along them, sometimes two or three near together
or on one side ; a third set of branches is smaller and proportionally
much shorter than the second, upon which it is
arranged in a similar way ; all these branches are rather
suddenly bent at their commencement, and taper very gradually
to fine points. Thus far the ramification is found
to proceed in ordinary specimens, or such as, having been
tossed about among the rejectamenta of the sea, are much
worn ; and such is the figure in the Historia Fucorum. In
perfect specimens the third set» of branches is clothed with
ramuli, which are about one half or one quarter of an inch
long, tapering slightly at both extremities, and throwing
out from their sides and ends minute, jointed, viscid fibres
that adhere to paper when dried upon it, which the rest of
the plant hardly does. The first sets of branches differ but
slightly in diameter; they are cylindrical, and of a texture
approaching to coriaceous. They consist of a tubular
membrane, formed of articulated hollow fibres so connected
as to give it a reticulated appearance, (whence the generic
name,) inclosing a cellular tissue. The fibres of which
this membrane is formed, when divided in the ultimate ramuli,
produce the viscid fringe above mentioned. The
seeds are described by Dr. Greville as “ ovate, scattered,
slightly imbedded in the substance of the frond.” The colour
of the plant changes but little in drying; it is a brownish
olive green, varying a little in intensity.
It may always be distinguished from Dichloria (Fucus)
viridis, by the scattered arrangement of its branches, that
plant having them regularly pinnate.—J . D. C. S.