gulf-weed
A species of sea-weed (Sargassum bacciferum of the sub-order Fucaceæ) found in the Gulf Stream, the Sargasso Sea, and elsewhere; characterized by having a number of berry-like air-vessels. The name is sometimes given to another species (S. vulgare).
| 1674 J. Josselyn Voy. New Eng. 40 We met with abundance of Sea-weeds called Gulf-weed coming out of the Bay of Mexico. 1708 Brit. Apollo No. 86. 1/2 Weed (called by the Mariners Gulf Weed). 1835–6 Todd Cycl. Anat. I. 520/1 Floating Sargasso or gulf-weed of the Equator. |