i68 Dr. GooDENouGH and Mr. Woodward'j Obftrval'ions on 



l.ightfoot are one and the fame plant. This will be readily allowed 

 by any one who will take tip a clufter of thefe plants when grow- 

 ing near the low-water mark at a fpriiig tide. In almoft every fuch 

 clufter he will find all the gradations of divifion to which wc 

 allude. F. Ofmunda fliews it when of free growth in a young (late. 

 Mr. Lightfoot remarks (but it proves his flight acquaintance with 

 it), that it (his fiik'mm) never produces feeds—How fliould it in 

 this immature ftate ? Morifon's figure exhibits it in full and per- 

 fe£l growth. This is an excellent reprefentation ; but we have 

 found it ftill more luxuriant on the rocks near Ilfracombe. 



There is fcarcely any poflibility of afcertaining the caufe of luxu- 

 rious growth in any of the cryptogamic plants, be they mufc'i, alga;, or 

 /k«o-/. The plants of ouf- very gardens vary in ftature and monftro- 

 fity, though cultivated with the fame means and precifely the fame 

 care. How much more then may we imagine fubmarine plants to 

 give into irregularities, whofe occult fituation and expofure to un- 

 feen currents baffle the mofl: acute refearches ! On the fame root 

 may be found plants of a fimple frond barely dentated ; compound 

 plants with a fimple pinnatifid divifion ; and others with ramifica- 

 tions of a multiplied nature. The colour fometimes is yellowifli 

 or buff, in its more advanced ftate of a dark dirty red. The ter- 

 minations of the fmaller branches are loaded with minute tuber- 

 cles ; this gives them a callous appearance. Thefe tubercles extend 

 themfelves not unfrequently a little way down the branches, and 

 are fometimes fupported on fhort thick peduncles. 



36. Fucus 



