a new Species of Fucus. 133 
DES CR + Po T- ON. 
- THE plant adheres to the ftones under the furface of the 
water, without any vifible root, immediately branching into nume- 
rous ftems. Individual frons about fix inches high, the fize of {mall 
twine, round, and rough towards the bafe with the remains of 
broken branches; the lower part of the principal branches having 
the fame appearance. Branches numerous, growing without order ; 
towards the fummit much crowded; nearly the fize of the ftem : 
thefe again branched in a fimilar manner; the laft clothed with 
fhort fubulate leaves, growing in a 1 fubalternate order, but not 
regularly. 
The fru&tification is fituate in the bofom of the leaves and of 
the fmaller branches, on fhort fruit-ftalks, each of which appears to 
the naked eye to bear one or more capfules; about the fize of the 
fmalleft pin’s head. Thefe capfules, viewed with a good common 
eye-glafs, have the appearance of flowers, confifting of feveral 
 flefhy petals, much refembling the germina of the Sedums; but 
when moiftened with water and put under the microfcope, it ap- 
pears that they are compofed of feveral lanceolate capfules, on 
fhort fruit-ftalks forming a panicle, or fometimes a fimple umbel; 
each individual having the appearance of a filiqua, and containing 
fix or eight round fomewhat comprefled feeds, difpofed in two pa- 
rallel lines. Thefe feed-vefiels appear to have neither valves nor 
diffepiment, nor are the feeds attached to any ligament; therefore 
it is truly acapfule of one cell, and not either filique or legume. 
The colour of the plant is reddifh brown, or fubfafcgias, when 
frefh ; when dry it is nearly black ; but if moiftened, or held before 
a ftrong light, the real colour may be obferved. The capfules are — 
pale and femi-tranfparent, the feeds the colour of the plant. 
When 
