l68 Dr. Goodenougii and Mr, Woodward\t Obfervahons on 



Lightfoot are one and the fame plant. This will be readily allowed 

 by any one who will take upa clufter of thefe plants when grow- 

 ing near the low-water mark at a fpring tide. In almofl every iuch 

 duller he will find all the gradations of divillon to which we 

 allude. F. Ofmunda fhews it when of free growth in a young date. 

 Mr. Lightfoot remarks (but it proves his flight acquaintance with 

 it), that it (his filicinus) never producer feeds — How fhould it in 

 this immature flate? Morifon's figure exhibits it in full and per- 

 fect growth. This is an excellent reprefentation ; but we have 

 found it ftill more luxuriant on the rocks near Ilfracombe. 



There is fcarcely any poffibility of afcertaining the caufe of luxu- 

 rious growth in any of the cryptogamic plants, be they mufcz, algce, or 

 fungi. The plants of our very gardens vary in £tat<ure and monftro- 

 fity, though cultivated with the fame means and precifely the fame 

 care. How much more then may we imagine fubmarine plants to 

 give into irregularities, whofe occult fituation and expofure to un» 

 feen currents baffle the moil acute refearches ! On the fame root 

 may be found plants of a fimple frond barely dentated ; compound 

 plants with a fimple pinnatifid divifion ; and others with ramifica- 

 tions of a multiplied nature. The colour fometimes is yellowifh 

 or buff, in its more advanced flate of a dark dirty red. The ter- 

 minations of the fmaller branches are loaded with minute tuber- 

 cles; this gives them a callous appearance. Thefe tubercles extend 

 themfelves not unfrequently a little way down the branches, and 

 are fometimes fupported on fhort thick peduncles. 



36. Fucus 



