470 Universitij of ('alifor)iia Fuhlicatioiis in Botamj [Vol.6 



hitherto known only from the tropical locality of Key West, so far 

 north." Since then we have been able, through the kindness of Pro- 

 fessor W. G. Farlow, to examine an authentic specimen of Gomonfs 

 species. It is heavily inerusted with lime, has a decidedly conical 

 apical cell, while the cells of the trichoma are almost always decidedly 

 longer than broad. The diameter of the cells is 1.5-2/a and the dis- 

 sepiments are comparatively broad and transparent. In all of these 

 respects it differs from our Alaskan plant although that comes within 

 the limits of thickness assigned by Gomont to his species. The 

 Alaskan plant is more slender than Symploca altantica Gomont, with 

 less distinct sheath, and more rounded terminal cell which is not at 

 all thickened above. It differs also in having inconspicuous dissepi- 

 ments. On account of these various differences, it seems justifiable to 

 describe the Alaskan plant as new. 



' Microcoleus Weeksii Setchell et Gardner sp. nov. 



Plate 40, fig. 24 



Vaginis tenuibus, gelatinosis, in ambitu indistinctis; trichoma tibus 

 in vaginis 20-40, laxe intricatis, aeruginosis, non torulosis, 7-S/a diam., 

 ad apices attenuatis ; cytioplasmate homogeneo; cellulis 1.8-2.5/i. 

 longis; cellula apicali acute conica nee eapitata nee calyptrata. 



Sheath thin, hyaline, gelatinous, irregular ; trichomes 20-40 in a 

 sheath, loosely intertwined, aeruginous, not torulose, l-S/j. diam., ends 

 attenuated; protoplast homogeneous; cells 1.8-2.5/a lo^ng; end cell 

 acutely conical, not capitate nor calyptrate. 



Growing on Griffith sia sp. in the lower littoral belt. Near Pacific 

 Grove, California. Collected by Mrs. J. M. Weeks, February 1, 1896. 

 Type no. 100560, Herbarium of the University of California. 



. In 1896, Mrs. J. M. Weeks sent some specimens of Griffiflisia to 

 Professor Setchell for determination, and in making a microscopic 

 examination of the material he detected specimens of a Microcoleus 

 which he concluded to be undescribed. Tlie material being scanty Avas 

 not named and described at that time, but incorporated into the 

 Herbarium awaiting further investigation, and with the hope that 

 more material might be discovered. Since then, unfortunately, no 

 more material has been reported, and it seems desirable at present to 

 name and describe the species. 



M. Weeksii is a species which seems at present to have its nearest 

 affinities with M. chthonoplastes (Mert.) Thuret, on the one hand, and 

 M. acutirostris (Crouan) Gomont, on the other. It differs from the 

 first in the character of the sheath, being very much more indefinite, 



