ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 217 



lets. Hirome undarioides represents a new genus closely allied to 

 Undaria, from which it differs in having no ligule at the transition- 

 point, and by the shortness of the stipe. The principal characteristic 

 of the plant lies in the position of the sori on the costal area of the 

 lamina, the sporophyll being often absent. In Undaria pinnatifida, on 

 the other hand, the sporophyll is the principal soriferous area, though 

 in certain forms this area is continued into the lamina. Hirome 

 undarioides is collected in large quantities and sold in the market. 

 Champia expansa differs externally from the other species of the genus. 

 It approaches most nearly to C. bifida Okam., but is distinguished from 

 it by the regular dichotomous branching, and the broad, much com- 

 pressed segments. 



Uses of Marine Algae in Japan.* — K. Yendo also gives an account of 

 the preparation of various algaj for food and decoration, as well as for 

 laundry and other purposes. Species belonging to 23 genera are enu- 

 merated, with the special method employed for each. A table of statistics 

 shows that the export of Laminaria for commercial purposes is large, and 

 it is stated that not less than 11,232,900 sheets of Porphyra, each sheet 

 being the final edible production from the alga, were manufactured in 

 one year. This paper is illustrated by three Japanese prints. 



Distribution of Marine Algae in Japan.f — The same author divides 

 the algal region of Japan into the following sections : (a) Pacific side : — 

 1. From Kurile islands to Kinkwa-san island. 2. From Kinkwa-san 

 island to the southern end of Kin-shu island. 3. From the southern 

 end of Kin-shu island to Formosa, (b) Japan Sea side : — 1. From Iki 

 Island to Ojika Peninsula. 2. From Ojika Peninsula to the north. In 

 these various sections of the coast area the character of the algas varies 

 from subarctic to tropical, according to whether the section in question 

 is washed by the cold currents originating at Kamschatka or by the 

 main north equatorial stream. The principal species characterising each 

 section are enumerated. 



North American Alg33.| — F. S. Collins continues his notes on 

 North American algee. He definitely adds Gracilaria confervoides to 

 the list of species found in that country, having collected it himself at 

 Mattapoisett, Mass. Actinococcus peltaeformis Schmitz has been found 

 on the coast of Maine, growing on its host-plant Gymnogongrus nor- 

 vegicus. Codiolum pusillwm Foslie occurs at Cutler, Maine, in all stages 

 of variation, from the typical European form to that known as forma 

 americanum. A new variety, triplicata, is described for Spirogyra 

 decimina ; Plectonema Battersii Gom. is now recorded from three locali- 

 ties in Massachusetts, Microcoleus tenerrimus Gom. from Maine, and 

 Xenococcus Kerneri Hansg. from Cohasset, Mass. 



Cell-growth and Plant-form in Marine Algae. § — F. Tobler pub- 

 lishes further details of his researches in this connection, dividing his 

 paper into the following sections : (1) The material and its treatment ; 



* Postelsia, Yearbook Minn. Seaside Stat.. 1902, pp. 1-18 (3 pis. 3 prints). 

 t Tom. cit... pp. 17U-02 (3 pis.). % Rhodora, v. (1903) pp. 231-4. 



§ Jahrb. wiss. Bot., 1903, pp. 527-80 (I pi.). 



April 20th, 1004 Q 



