382 Phyllospadix. [ZOE 
as it appears in the water. The original figure opposite, on p. 
205, purports to be of P. Scoulerz, but is a drawing of the form 
known as 2. Zorreyi, made from an herbarium specimen evi- 
dently. The drawing of the roots, root-stock, leaf-sheaths, 
ovaries, as well as the extraordinary number of fruiting nodes 
are all uncharacteristic. Prof. Ascherson’s characterization of 
this genus and Zostera, in the text, is however thoughtful, and 
correct so far as the morphology of the genus was at that time 
ascertainable. 
In making a critical biological study of the genus, its mor- 
phology and anatomy, during the past year, for the purpose of 
ascertaining its relationship to Zostera, and the possible causes, 
under the peculiar climatic conditions of this Coast, of its evo- 
lution as a genus, I came upon certain important structural char- 
acters which had remained undescribed, and was enabled to clear 
away some existing misapprehensions.* 
In the light of thi§ study it has seemed desirable to recast the 
generic description of Phyllospadix. 
PHYLLOSPADIX, W. J. Hooker. 
Submersed marine plants growing along exposed shores, from 
low-tide ievel to two fathoms below, with long, grass-like leaves, 
and creeping, much-branched rhizomas, which cling to rocks or 
to a rocky substratum in sand. 
Rhizoma brittle, somewhat compressed from above, its greatest 
diameter from .5 to 1. centimeter, nodes not well-marked, the whole 
ee extending indefinitely, and irregularly knotted when 
Oo 
Roots short (2-4 cm.) stout, simple, six, eight or rarely ten, in 
a double row on the side of each internode, alternating ens and 
left, in successive internodes. 
Branches are on the side of each internode, opposite “ee 
clusters of roots, and on alternate sides, in successive internodes; 
young branches very leafy. 
Leaves, .5 to 2 meters long, slender, numerous, mostly arising 
from the terminal bud and from short sterile branches of the rhi- 
e The Genus Phyllospadix, by William Russel Dudley, in the Wilder 
Quarter-Century Book, Sept. 1£93, pp. 403-420, two plates. 
