PROPAGATION OF THE fiULr-WEED. 581 



to root or fructification, they are found ; tliougli, in reference 

 to the (juestious under discussion, accurate information on 

 tliesc points would be of considerable importance. 



" That some mixture of other species probably exists 

 may be inferred even from Dr. Meycn's statement, and indi- 

 rectly from that of Lieut. Evans, who, in his conmuuiicaiion 

 published in ^lajor Rennell's invaluable work on the Cur- 

 rents 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 Scayassion with 

 dotted leaves, the real fructification of the genus bearing :79 

 no resembknce to that of Ferns, though to persons slightly 

 acquainted with the subject the arranged dots on the leaves 

 might readily suggest the comparison. 



" With regard to the non-existence of roots in the Gulf- 

 Aveed as a proof of specific distinction, it is to be observed 

 that the genus Sar(jassum, now consisting of about sixty 

 species, is one of the most natural and most readily dis"- 

 tinguished of the family Fucaccce, and that there is no reason 

 to believe that any other species of the genus, even tlioso 

 most nearly related to, and some of which have been con- 

 founded with it, are originally destitute of roots ; though 

 some of them are not unfrequently found both in the fixed 

 and in considerable masses in the floating state, retaining 

 vitality and probably propagating themselves in the same 

 manner (see Forskal, Fl. yEgypt.-Arab., p. 19.:2, n. 5:2). It 

 is true, indeed, that a Sargassum, in every other respect 

 resembling Gulf-weed, has, I believe, not yet been found 

 furnished either with roots or fructification, neither Sloane's 

 nor Browne's evidence on this subject being satisfactory.^ 

 But the shores of the Gulf of Florida have yet not been sulfi- 

 ciently examined to enable us absolutely to decide that that 

 is not the original source of the plant ; and the dificrcnces 



^ Sec Sloane's Jam. i, p. 59. I have examined Sloane's specimens in iiis 

 Herbarium ; they belonr^ to Gulf-weed in its ordinary form, and arc nlilcc 

 destitute of root and fructilication ; hence they are probably those gathered by 

 him in the Atlantic, and not those which lie says grew on the rocks on the 

 shores of Jamaica. Browne's assertion to the same clTect is probably merely 

 adopted from Sloanc. 



