354 University of California Publications in Botany [Vol. 7 



Compsonema intricatum sp. nov. 



Plate 35, figures 1-3 



Frondilnis 1.5-2.5 mm. nltis, plus minusve confluentibus, stratum 

 cojitimium volntimim iiulcfiiiitc cxpaiisum foi-maiitibus; filanicntis 

 (•('pciitibns iinmcro.sis. i)i-ol'use ramosis, tlcetuantibus; lilameutis circtis 

 mimerosis, ant simi)li('ibus aut basim ramis paucis brevibus instructis, 

 rcctis. apice leviter atteniiatis, pro parte pilif eris ; pilis veris demitibus ; 

 ccllulis filaiiiciiloniin i-0])oiitiiiiii f(irma masrnitiidinof|no irrcfrnbiribiis; 

 ecllulis lilameiitorum ercctorum cylindrieis, 8-!)/a diain., 1-2-plo lon^:!- 

 oribus, ad basim filamentonim leviter angiistioribus; ehromatopboris 

 taeniatis; zoosporangiis ovoideis usque ad ellipsoideis, in filamcntis 

 brovil)u.s filamoutis ropontilius orinndis torminalil)us, in fihmicntis 

 erectis prope basim jx'dicellatis scssilibusve, laleralibus, 25-33/x loiigis, 

 18-22fi latis; gamotangiis in filamentis erectis brevibus e filamentis 

 repentibus orieundis terminalibus, in filamentis erectis ad basim sessil- 

 ibus p(>diepllatisve lateralibns, aut in filamentis primariis ereetis intor- 

 calaribus, 80-120/* (usque ad 175/*) longis, 10-14/1 latis, iis terminalibus 

 interealaribusque usque ad 600/* longis; loeulis plerumque 2-seriatis. 



Growing on Funis furcatus f. Carmel Bay, Monterey County, 

 California. Type, Gardner, no. 2893 (Herb. Univ. Calif., no. 207033), 

 May. 



Compsonema intricatum bas diverged very far from a typical 

 Compsonema. The size of a single individual at maturity cannot be 

 ascertained, since the creeping filaments, and to some extent the erect 

 filaments, are thoroughly and inextricably intertwined, forming con- 

 tinuous velvety strata on the surface of the host for several inches in 

 expanse. The gametangia have, to a considerable degree, moved to 

 the lateral position, the majority, however, remain terminal on long 

 pedicels from the basal filaments. The lateral position is characteristic 

 of Ectocarpus. The intercalary gametangia are typical of the genus 

 Pylaiella. The creejoing filaments are very numerous, although they 

 do not radiate regularly side by side, thus forming a regular circular 

 disk typical of the genus Myrionem,a. The zoosporangia( ?) are 

 numerous and develop with the gametangia on the same individual. 

 It is exceedingly doubtful whether or not these structures are func- 

 tional. At the stage in which the material was found, they were 

 practically all of the same size, and some of the accompanying game- 

 tangia were empty. There is no indication of the formation of 

 zoospores. They are filled with what seems to be densely crowded, 

 angular ehromatophores. The apical end is slightly beaked, and lli(> 

 outer wall dissolved, except a thin inner membrane. Their position 

 on the .same plants with gametangia. the peculiar oj)cn beak, and the 



