the Britijh Fuel, tvlth particular Defcrlptlons of each Species. 221 



Frons femipedalis, filiformis, ramofiffima : Rami nonnunqnam alterni, 

 frequentius fparfi et fummitatem verfus imbricati : Ramuli breves, 

 fafciculati capillares ; in plantis junioribus acuti, at mox loiigiores 

 et obtufiufculi fiunt. Color junioris plantte flavefcens, fenefcentis 

 niger. Subftantia in juniori plants fubcartilaginea, tencra, laevis ; 

 in fenefcenti, rigida, fragilis, fcabra. 



This plant has been called by Mr. Hudfon confcrvoides ; but that 

 appellation having been given by Linnaeus to the fpecies defcribed 

 in the Fl. Ang. by the name of verrucofus, it has become ncceflary to 

 give a new denomination to the prefent plant. We have adoj^ited 

 that oi variabilis, as expreffive of the changes it undergoes in the 

 different ftages of its growth, which are fuch, that were it not for 

 one leading circumftance, which may be traced through all its 

 changes, it would be almoft impoflible to recognize it in youth and 

 ■ age for the fame fpecies. 



This marking feature confifts in the fhort fafcicnlated acute ra- 

 muli which readily diftinguifh it from all other fpecies, and which 

 is confequently made the principal di(lin£tion in the fpecific cha- 

 ra6ler. Thefe ramuli^ in the young plant, form fomewhat clofe 

 Jafciculif are fine almoft as a hair, and acutely terminated. As the 

 plant advances, they appear of rather a ftronger fubftance, and 

 fomewhat more fpreading; and in age they become longer, though 

 rarely exceeding two or three lines r they terminate obtufely, and 

 appear fomewhat multifid, as defcribed in Fl. AngUca. 



The young plant is fubcartilaginous, but fmooth and tender : in 

 age it becomes rigid, fragile, and peculiarly rough to the touch, 

 from the remains of the broken branches and ramuli. From thefe 

 circumftances Mr. Hudfon has defcribed it ''fronde fcabra^ and ' ra~ 

 * mulis denticulatisj taking part of his fpecific character very im- 

 properly 



