the Brhiji) Fuci> with particular Defcriptions of each Species, 115 



In confequence of this, the celebrated Dr. Solander, in a manufcript 

 preferved in the library of Sir Jofeph Banks, has defcribed them as 

 two different fpecies ; at the fame time exprefTmg his doubts whether 

 they might not be male and female of the fame fpecies. In the prefent 

 imperfect knowledge of the nature and properties of marine plants, 

 it is impoffible for us to determine this point; and from the imprac- 

 ticability of examining thefe plants whilff. actually growing in their 

 native element, it is probable that the manner in which the impreg- 

 nation is performed may ever remain among the arcana of nature. 

 We cannot however doubt, but that both thefe appearances are 

 that of female fructification : for in F. a/atus, and fome other 

 fpecies, granules as well as tubercles are obferved ; and they have 

 been traced from one to the other, fo as to allow us to conclude 

 that the granules are the firft vifible appearances of the female fruc- 

 tification, and that fome of themfwell into tubercles, whilft others 

 are abortive and difappear. It is extremely probable that thefe 

 circumftances alfo take place in this fpecies : the only objection to 

 it is, that the granules for the moft part appear on the membrana- 

 ceous parts, and the feed-bearing tubercles are never found in any 

 other fituation than on the midrib. 



That thefe granules are feeds efcaped from, or expofed by the 

 deciduous co.ats of the tubercles, as fuggefted in the former defcrip- 

 tion of this plant, is improbable, from the regularity of their difpo- 

 fition, and the fpace which they fo regularly cover in every fpeci- 

 men which has been obferved, though we have reafon to fuppofe 

 that one of thefe circumftances does take place in a fpecies recently 

 difcovered by the ingenious Mr. Stackhoufe, a member of this So- 

 ciety, and which will be defcribed by him. 



In this ftate of uncertainty we muft conclude the fubject, with 

 allowing that it is not impoffible, but that thefe plants, though fo 



Q^2 perfectly 



