the BrltiJ}} Fud, with particular Defer Iptions of each Species. i jq 



near llfracombe. Few fpecimens were more than a foot high ; 

 but we have fcen it at Weymouth thrown up, after ftorms, of great 

 fize, and well jultifying Mr. Ray's apt comparifon to roots of 

 trees. 



In a recent (late it is of a yellow olive colour, but always turns 

 black in drying. It is fomething extraordinary, that fometimes the 

 bladders are wanting even in very old plants. The fruftifica- 

 tion is tubercles at the bafe of the llaorter leaves, towards the end 

 of the branches, fomething in the manner of tamarifcifolius. 



The F, baccatus of Gmclin is this plant in a very old (late, and 

 may be found not uncommon, thrown up on the pebbly beaches of 

 Dover, Haflings, Weymouth, &c. The lower leaves are quite flat 

 and broadiili, and have a rib or nerve running up the middle. 



Wc hardly know how to call Mr. Hudfon's fetaceus a variety, 

 and mark it fo only by way of including that fpecies. All the gra- 

 dations from the firft fetaceous ftate, to that in which Gmelin has 

 figured it, are to be found conftantly — the former when young or 

 growing in (hallow water near the fhore ; the latter when old and 

 in deep water, not to be perceived in the extreme ebb of the tide. 



In all ftages of its growth, the lower leaves are more or lefs linear 

 and fiat, the upper ones filiform and fetaceous. The bladders have 

 ufually one or two fliort fubulate leaves growing upon their fides. 



Obf. In general this plant has mod numerous branches, and 

 thofc crowded together; but we have feen it thrown up on the 

 coaft with very few and thin branches, fo as to be diflingui(hed 

 only by perfons who have well known it in its various ftages : 

 but here alfo the branches and leaves are always alternate, and 

 ufually diftich. Thefe are young plants not yet in frudlification. 

 At the ferry at the Ifle of Portland, we found young dwarf 

 jplants, without bladders, with many branches tolerably clofe, all 



T 2, diflich 



