the Brit ft Fuci y with particular Dejcriptkm cf each Species. 139 



near Ufracombe. Few fpecimens were more than a foot high ; 

 but we havefeen it at Weymouth thrown up, after florins, of gi eat 

 fize, and well juftifying Mr. Ray's apt companion to roots of 

 trees. 



In a recent (late it is of a yellow olive colour, but always turns 

 black in drying. It is fome thing extraordinary, that fomctimes the 

 bladders are wanting even in very old plants. The fructifica- 

 tion is tubercles at the bafe of the (hotter leaves, towards the end 

 of the branches, fomething in the manner of tamarifcifol'nu. 



The F. bdecatus of Gmciin is this plant in a very old (fate, and 

 may be found not uncommon, thrown up on the pebbly beaches oi 

 Dover, Haftings, Weymouth, &c. The lower leaves are quite flat 

 and broadiih, and have a rib or nerve running up the middle. 



We hardly know how to call Mr. Hudfon's jetaccus a varictv, 

 and mark it fo only by way of including that fpecies. All the gra- 

 dations from the firft fetaceous (late, to that in which Gmelin has 

 figured it, are to be found conflantly — the former when young or 

 growing in (hallow water near the fhore ; the latter when old and 

 in deep water, not to be perceived in the extreme ebb of the tide. 



In all flages of its growth, the lower leaves are more or Iefs linear 

 and flat, the upper ones filiform and fetaceous. The bladders have 

 ufually one or two fhort fubulate leaves growing upon their fides. 



Obf. In general this plant has mod numerous branches, and 

 thofe crowded together; but we have feen it thrown up on the 

 coafl with very few and thin branches, fo as to be diflinguifhed 

 only by perfons who have well known it in its various flages : 

 but here alfo the branches and leaves are always alternate, and 

 ufually diflich. Thefe are young plants not yet in fructification. 

 At the ferry at the Ifle of Portland, we found young dwarf 

 plants, without bladders, with many branches tolerably clofe, all 



T 2 diftich 



