Fuci. 
—— 
Method of 
Lamou- 
roux. 
FUCACE. 
Fucus, 
6 
capsules are themselves enveloped by a particular mem- 
brane, and form tubercles; and these tubercles are group- 
ed into polymorphous masses. These masses are at- 
tached to the branches or to the extremities of fronds; 
they contain a mucilaginous matter, the quantity and 
viscidity of which increase as the seeds ripen; and 
when they are dispersed, it disappears with them. The 
fronds of the Fucacez vary in composition, situation, ge- 
neral or particular shape, with or without nerves ; ex- 
hibiting a variety almost as great as the leaves of dico- 
tyledonous plants. : 
The Ist genus is Fucus, which is thus defined: 
« Tubercles numerous, collected in cylindrical recep- 
tacles, which are flat or compressed, solitary or in pairs ; 
the root an expanding callous disk.” | This character'has 
no doubt the effect greatly to reduce the numbers of the 
old genus Fucus; but it is still very extensive, and the 
author has judged it necessary to divide it into no fewer 
than eleven sections. Plants which materially differ in 
eneral aspect and habit are still brought together: thus 
. natans, siliquosus, vesiculosus, loreus, and canalicu- 
latus, are arranged under this one genus; while we 
might expect them to form as many distinct genera. 
In specifying the different sections, some of the best 
known or most remarkable species shall be mentioned 
as examples. 
Sect. (1.) With petiolated air-vesicles; leaves dis- 
tinct, either sessile or petiolated. This includes F. na- 
tans and F. bacciferus of Turner, (t. 46, 47.) both of them 
found floating in the ocean, and’ forming much of the 
Mar do Sargasso of the Portuguese. But’ not one Bri- 
tish species falls under this section, unless, perhaps, 
F. salicifolius of Poiret. 
(2.) With petiolated air-vesicles, furnished with a 
terminal foliaceous membrane; as F. turbinatus, (Turn. 
t. 24.) found in the East and West Indies. 
(3.) With oblong vesicles, winged with'a triple mem- 
brane, producing a three-sided or angular appearance. 
A single species only belongs to this section, viz. F. tri- 
queter, (Turn. t. 34.) from the sea near the Cape. 
(4.) With petiolated vesicles lengthening in ‘the 
form of a pod. Highly characteristic of this section, ‘a 
well known British species occurs, F. siliquosus ; but 
the vesicles or air-bladders may be readily overlooked 
by a careless observer, on account of their resemblance 
ae receptacles generally to be found on the same 
t, 
E (5.) The vesicles forming a part of the branches ; 
leaves distinct. For example, F. tamariscifolius of 
Hudson, (F. ericoides, Turn. t. 191.) 
(6.) Fructification at the ends of the fronds, which 
are flat, branched, generally provided with a single 
nerve, and with vesicles. This includes the two very 
abundant and well known species, F. vesiculosus and 
serratus. 
(7.) Vesicles innate in the branches; the fructifica- 
tion on peduncles, This likewise includes a very ge« 
neral species, F. nodosus. 
(8.) Without leaves ; vesicles like a string of beads, 
and covered with the fructification. This section is 
created solely for the very remarkable sea-weed named 
by Labillardiere F. moniliformis, and by Mr Turner 
F. Banksii, § Hist. Fuc. t. 1.) The former name is so 
expressive of the character of the plant, that any change 
is to be deprecated, particularly as the illustrious Pre- 
sident of the Royal Society is already loaded with well 
merited botanical honours. 
_(9.) Without vesicles, and with a single round um- 
bilicated frond at the base of the branches.—This sec« 
4 
FUCI. 
‘Holland. ‘Till, 
Fuci. 
tion embraces only the remarkable ape F. loreus, 
Method of 
common on many of our shores, and which attracts 
attention chiefly on account of the round umbilicated ;" iy 
frond above mentioned, which, in the early of ou, 
growth, resembles a large peziza, and gives the rocks 
the appearance of being covered with a crop of mush- a 
rooms. d 
(10.) Without leaves and without vesicles; fructifi- 
cation at the ends of the branches, which are channelled. 
—This takes in F. canaliculatus (Turn. t.3.), common 
on our shores ; and F’. Mackaii (t. 52.),a ies found . 
on the west coast of Scotland, and named in honour of 
the discoverer Mr James Townsend Mackay, of the Col- 
lege Botanic Garden, Dublin, an excellent and most de~ 
serving botanist. Pert vo 
(11.) Without leaves or vesicles ; branches cylindri« 
cal, with the fructification at the tips ; as F. tubercula~ : 
tus, (Turn. t.7.) 
2. Laminaria ; With the root fibrous and’ branch~ Laminaria. 
ed.” This generic character is objectionable, 
on the ground that the root is frequently — 
specimens of sea-weeds which are cast ashore ; 5 
on the other hand, the fructification, from which ge< 
neric characters are commonly taken, is also frequently 
wanting, and at any rate it is very little known. Most 
of the laminarize are plants, with broad fronds, 
inhabiting deep places of the shores, where they are 
much exposed to the action of waves, and euros 4 
therefore the strong mode of attachment with whi 
they are furnished, and from which the generic charac- 
ter is derived. Some have air-vesicles, asf. pyri 
(Turn. t..110.), and F. buccinalis (t..139.); and in 
others, vesicles seem entirely wanting. Not only the 
gigantic sea-weeds of the Southern Seas, some of them 
described as more than 1000 feet in length, belong to 
this genus; the largest of the British fuci also fall un- 
der it, the well known great tangles, F.polyschides or 
bulbosus, F. digitatus and saccharinus. = 
3. Osmundaria: ‘ Fructifications minute; oblong, on Osm 
footstalks, situated at the points of’ the: leaves ; the ti 
leaves entirely covered with small spiny mamnille.”— 
This genus, named from its resemblance to some ferns 
of the genus Osmunda, is formed for the sake of one 
ies of trifling size, brought fromthe shores of New 
wever, it be examined by some bo- 
4. Desmarestia: “ Fructification unknown ; branches Desm 
and leaves broad, contracted at ware ace so oo" 
a supported on petioles; the edges garni 
oath winall oines.”—This includes F, aculeatus (Turn. 
t. 187.), which is common on our , and -F. 
ligulatus (t..98.), which is rare: Lamouroux, as well 
as Stackhouse, is inclined to: consider the marginal spi- 
nules as containing the seeds of the plants; but Mr 
Turner has doubts on the subject. 
5. Furcellaria: “ Fructification pod-shaped, subula- 
ted, simple or branched, ‘smooth, stem and branches 
lindrical, and without leaves.’—This includes only 
. lumbricalis (Turn. t. 6.) and its varieties. 
6. Chorda: “ Fructification unknown ; stem simple, Chorda. 
cylindrical, divided by internal dissepiments,”—the Z 
nicula intergerina of Roth. ‘The name Chorda was j 
applied by Stackhouse to a small group of fuci, consisting ; 
chiefly of F.filum and F. thrix. The latter is now known i 
to be nothing but the filum in a young state; so that 
at present F. filum is the only species of this genus. : 
The second order, Fuoripex, are distinguished by ®. Fro 
their “ organization being coralloidal ; their colour be~ P= 
