GRYPTOGAMIA ALGM. 931 



Short-forked Fucus. AngUs. 



Upon the iea-lhores frequent, in bafons of water 

 left by the tides among the rocks. VIII. 



It varies from three to fix inches in length. Its 

 color is fometimes a dark fufcous red, fome- 

 times olive, but dries black. Its fubftance 

 cartilaginous, fomevvhat thick and opake. 



The flalks are perfedly cylindrical, of the fize of 

 packthread, dichotomoufly branched-, the 

 branches nearly of equal flze and height, ter- 

 minating in little fhort forks. 



The frudifications appear in the fummits of the 

 branches, which fwell into the form of fhort 

 oval acute veficles, a little comprefs'd and 

 furrow'd on the margin, and which open at 

 the top, and difcharge their prolific mucous 

 contents. 



The uppermoft fegments of th's plant, particu- 

 larly in its dry Hate, are generally furrounded 

 with prominent circles or rings, which are va- 

 rioudy placed, fometimes juft under thedivifions 

 of the branches, and fometimes above them. 



This Fticus^ and the following, have their branches 

 frequently infefted with a whitilh hairy mem- 

 brane, which is the FLUSTRA pilofa. Lin, 

 fyfi. nat, p. 1301. Ellis, cor, 73. /. 31./. A. 



O o o 2 F. fronde 



