42 
Barber , — On the Structure and 
other Laminarias by the older writers. Ray, who must have 
seen it frequently in his journeys, has not separated it from 
Fucus digitatus \ which is the Fucus arbor eus polyschides of 
Kaspar Bauhin 1 2 . 
In 1712 Reaumur 3 , in a treatise on the ‘ Flowers and Seeds 5 
of marine plants, describes and accurately figures Laminaria 
bulbosa under the name of Fucus arboreus polyschides caule 
piano et tortuoso , at the same time carefully distinguishing it 
from Bauhin s and Ray’s species. The characteristic flat stalk 
with the twist at the base, and the hollow bulb with the 
numerous root-like processes springing from it, are well seen in 
Reaumur’s figure. In spite of this clear separation the species 
was entirely omitted by Linnaeus. 
The name bulbosa was applied to the plant by Hudson in 
the second edition of his British Flora published in 1778. At 
the time of publication of the first edition in 1 762 he does not 
appear to have met with the plant. According to Esper 4 , 
we must thank Stackhouse 5 and Goodenough, and Wood- 
ward 6 , for thoroughly describing the plant, and constituting it 
beyond doubt a distinct species. 
Perhaps one reason for this uncertainty regarding a plant 
with such marked characters is that the Laminarias vary con- 
siderably according to locality and other conditions. It is also 
to be noted that the young Laminaria bidbosa has very little 
resemblance to the mature plant. The stalk is at first cylin- 
drical, and the organs of fixation are similar to those of other 
species. At an early age there appears a ridge surrounding 
the stalk just beneath its junction with the lamina. The first 
notice of this feature I find in Turner’s Fuci, 1811, where the 
young stem is described as ‘linear with an umbrella-shaped 
process.’ 
Turner states his belief that F. bifur catus of Gunner 7 is 
really a young stage of L. bulbosa ; and this he confirms after 
1 Hist. Plant. 1686, p. 75. 
3 Hist, de l’Acad. 1711. 
5 Nereis Britannica, 1801. 
7 Flora Norwegica, i. 96, 1766. 
2 Pinax, 364. 
4 Icon. Fnc. 1797. 
6 Trans. Linn. Soc. iii. 153, 1 797 * 
