402 University of California Puhlications in Botany [^^o^. 6 



phyceae. After stating that a description of Nemalion Andersonii 

 had been published in the Proceedings of the American Academy, 

 Farlow remarks: "Since then I have received from Mr. C. C. ]\Ier- 

 riman a Nemalion from St. Kilda, Australia, which bears strong 

 resemblance to the California alga and the question arises whether 

 it may not be that both should be regarded as forms of Nemalion 

 ramulosum, Harv., described from New Zealand." Through the 

 courtes}^ of Professor Farlow to Professor Setchell I have been able 

 to make a careful examination of a bit of a fruiting plant from the 

 above mentioned material from Mr. Merriman designated as N. ramu- 

 losum Harv. I find the specimen to be monoecious, thus differing in 

 this respect from Cumagloia Andersonii, and that the cystocarps are 

 of the regular Nemalion type, the carpogonium dividing into several 

 cells from which develop numerous slender gonimoblasts. The goni- 

 moblasts grow compactly together in an erect fascicle, are 8-10 cells, 

 or 70-80fi, long and branch above, so that a longitudinal section of the 

 cystocarp appears fan-shaped. As the cystocarp grows the cortical 

 filaments are pushed aside so that there is no intermingling of cortical 

 and gonimoblastic filaments. The material examined is too old to 

 reveal the early stages in the development of the carpogonium and 

 of the cystocarp. It thus will be seen that this plant ascribed to 

 N. ramulosum Harv. as well as other Nemalions differ from Cumagloia 

 Andersonii essentially as regards the character and development of 

 the cystocarp. 



Another genus in Helminthocladiaceae to which Cumagloia seems 

 to be closely related is Dermonema. The origin and shape of the 

 carpogonium in each is very similar. The nature and ramification 

 of the gonimoblastic filaments of D. dir.hotnmum Harv., as figured by 

 Schmitz, are similar to those of Cumagloia Andersonii, but the 

 division of the fertilized carpogonium previous to the development 

 of the gonimoblasts, as figured by Heydrich, is a character belonging 

 to Dermonema and Nemalion rather than to Cumagloia. 



It may be noticed at this juncture that there exists in the genus 

 Nemalion an excellent series of species representing stages of com- 

 plexity of development of the gonimoblastic filaments. N. luhricum 

 and N. miiltifidum have the carpospores practically sessile on the 

 mass of cells resulting from the division of the carpogonium. iV. 

 Schrammi (Crn.) B0rg. and a new species from the Danish West 

 Indies recently described bj^ B0rgesen, N. longicalle, have delicate 



