■•o. 



' CRYPTOGAMIA ALG^. 931 



Short- forked Fucus. Anglis. 



Upon the fea-fhores 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, fomewhat thick and opake. 



The ftalks are perfedlly cylindrical, of the fize of 

 packthread, dichotomoufly branched -, the 

 branches nearly of equal fize and height, ter- 

 minating in little fhort forks. 



The fru6lifications appear in the fummits of the 

 branches, which fwell into the form of Ihorc 

 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 this plant, particu- 

 larly in its dry ftate, are generally furrounded 

 with prominent circles or rings, which are va- 

 rioufly placed, fometimes juft under thedivifions 

 of the branches, and fometimes above them. 



This Fucus, and the following, have their branches 

 frequently infefted with a whitifla hairy mem- 

 brane, which is the FLUSTRA pilofa. Ltn. 

 fyji. naS, p. 1301. Ellis, cor. 73. /. 31./. A. 



• O o 2 F. fronde 



