78 Linnean Societtj. [May 7j 



who ascertained, as he states, from the examination of several thou- 

 sand specimens, that it was uniformly destitute both of root and 

 fructification ; he concludes, therefore, that the plant propagates 

 itself solely by lateral branches : he at the same time denies that it 

 is brought from the Gulf of Florida, as, according to his own obser- 

 vation, it hardly exists in that part of the stream near the great 

 band, though found in extensive masses to the westward. I have 

 here to remark that, as far as relates to the absence of root and fruc- 

 tification, Meyen has only confirmed by actual observation what had 

 been previously stated by several authors, particularly by Mr. Turner 

 (in his ' Historia Fucorum,' vol. i. p. 103, published in 1S08), and 

 Agardh (in his ' Species Algarum,' p. 6, published in 1820). But 

 Meyen materially weakens his own argument in stating that he con- 

 siders the Gulf- weed (Sargassum bacciferum of Turner and Agardh), 

 and the Sargassum nutans, or vulgare, specifically distinguished from 

 it by these authors, as one and the same species ; adding, that he 

 has observed among the Gulf- weed all the varieties of Sargassum 

 vulgare described by Agardh ; and finally, that on the coast of Brazil 

 he has found what he regards as the Gulf-weed in fructification. 

 Now as Sargassum natans has been found fixed by a discoid base or 

 root, in the same manner as the other species of the genus, and as 

 according to Meyen the Gulf- weed has been found in ft-uctification, 

 the legitimate conclusion from his statements seems to be, that this 

 plant is merely modified by the ])eculiar circumstances in which it 

 has so long been placed. I am not, however, disposed to adopt 

 Dr. Meyen's statement that he actually found the true Sargassum 

 natans, much less all its supposed varieties, mixed with the Gulf- 

 weed, having reason to believe that at the period of his voyage his 

 practical knowledge of marine submersed Algae was not sufficient to 

 enable him accurately to distinguish species in that tribe. It is not 

 yet known what other species of Sargassum are mixed with the 

 Gulf-weed, what proportion they form of the great band, nor in 

 what state, with respect to root or fructification, they are found ; 

 though, in reference to the questions under discussion, accurate in- 

 formation on these points would be of considerable importance. 



" That some mixture of other species probably exists may be in- 

 ferred even from Dr. Mej^en's statement, and indirectly from that of 

 Lieut. Evans, who, in his communication published in Major Ren- 

 neU's invaluable work on the Currents of the Atlantic, asserts that 

 he found the Gulf- weed in fructification, which he compares with 

 that of Ferns, a statement which would seem to prove merely that 

 he had found along with the Gulf-weed a species of Sargassum with 



