SARGASSUM, OR GULFWEED 



leaves, and looks veiy much like some of the higher 

 foiTQS of plants. The stem is round and grows from 

 one to three feet in length. The branches are alter- 

 nate. The leaves are long and narrow with a midrib 

 and toothed edges. They 

 grow out from the stem on 

 short stalks. All over 

 their surface may be seen 

 tiny dark spots. You can- 

 not see these in the pic- 

 ture, but they may be 

 found on a large plant. 

 On this smaller one they 

 are quite distinct when 

 seen with a magnifying 

 glass. 



Notice the little round 

 balls all over the plant. 

 Thev look like little ber- 

 ries on stems. These are 

 the air vessels. Do you 

 remember where we found 

 them in the rockweeds? 



There are many twiglike forms that come out where 

 the leaf stems do. These are the fruit vessels. Within 

 them are the spore cases with their dustlike spores. 



The plant which is shown in the picture was found 

 at Cape Cod. It grows upon small stones and pebbles 



139 



Sargassum, or Gulfweed. 



