^3^ ^^' Tu RNER*s Defer iptlons of 



from Oporto by a gentleman who gathered it there in the month of 

 September 1798, that I can have very httle doubt of its being one 

 of the moft common weeds of that Ihore. It is altogether a con- 

 rie6lingUnk between two fpecies, by no means nearly alUed to each 

 other, Fucus cri/pus and Fuctis rubens^ with each of which it has 

 many points in common, though fufficiently removed from the one- 

 as well as the other. It agrees in texture and fuhftance with the for- 

 mer, and in general habit with the latter, but may at fir ft fight be 

 with eafe diftinguilhcd from both by the branches always preferving 

 their linear Form, and being divided at the extremities in a manner 

 fomewhat fimilar to thofe of Fucus blfidus. The col'our too, as far as 

 I have obferved, differs from that of every other Britiili Fucus; of a 

 dark red, inclining to brown, moft rapidly changing, if expofed to 

 the air or kept in frelTi water, to a dull dirty yellow: my Dover fpe- 

 cimens, when placed in a ftrong lights are of a fine pink at the end 

 of the frond. But the moft ftriking pecuharities of this fpecies are the 

 minutely crenulated edges, which cannot fail of being remarked by 

 the moft inattentive obferver, and the fru(5lification, which confifEs 

 of pale fle ill-coloured tubercles of the fizc of a pin's head, plenti- 

 fully fcattered upon each fide of the frond, efpecially towards the 

 extremities, in their earlieft ftage immerfed, but foon burfting 

 through the epidermis, and not continuing covered with it, as in all 

 other fpecies with which I am acquainted except Fucus radiatuSy 

 {c'^\\q^ o1 a fubftance inclining to fpongy, and ^^xy different from 

 the reft, of this plant: when dry they turn to a dark brown, and 

 entirely lofe their natural appearance. The habit of this Fucus in 

 a freili flate appears to me to be much twifled, and in fome branches 

 almoft ipiral. From analogy I have no hefitation in concluding 

 that it is perennial, and Mr. Dillwyn's fpecimens as well as thofe 

 brought me from Oporto leave no doubt as to its frucf U'ying in the 

 autumnal months, 



Fucus 



