CRYPTOGAMIA ALGJE. 939 



This Fucus is commonly about four feet long, 

 and feven or eight inches wide, but is fome- 

 times found three yards or more in length, and 

 a foot in width. Small fpecimens are not above 

 a cubit long, and two inches broad. The fub- 

 ftance is thin, membranaceous, and pellucid ; 

 the color green or olive. 



The root confifts of tough, cartilaginous fibres. 

 The ftalk is about fix inches long, and half an 

 inch wide, nearly fquare, and pinnated in the 

 middle, between the root and origin of the leaf, 

 with tei cr a dozen pair.of thick, cartilaginous, 

 oval-obtufe, foliaceous ligaments, each about 

 two inches long, and crowded together. 



The leaf is of an oval-lanceolate or long elliptic 

 form, fimpie and undivided, waved on the 

 edges, and widely rib'd in the middle from 

 bottom to top, the ftalk running through its 

 whole length, and ftanding; out on both fides 

 of the leaf 



The fructifications we have never feen •, but they 

 are probably fimiiar to thofe of the next fpe- 

 cics. 



This Fucus is eaten in the north both by men 

 and cattle. Its proper fealbn is in the month 

 of September, when it is in greateft perfedion. 



The membranous part is rejeded, and the ftalk 

 only is eaten. It is recommended in the dif- 



order 



