382 Phyllospadix. [zoE 



as it appears in the water. The original figure opposite, on p. 

 205, purports to be of P. Scoideri, but is a drawing of the form 

 known as P. Torreyi, 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 this 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 level 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 i. centimeter, nodes not well-marked, the whole 

 branching, extending indefinitely, and irregularl}- knotted when 

 old. 



Roots short (2-4 cm.) stout, simple, six, eight or rarely ten, in 

 a double row on the side of each internode, alternating right and 

 left, in successive internodes. 



Branches are on the side of each internode, opposite the 

 clusters of roots, and on alternate sides, in successive internodes; 

 young branches very leafy. 



Leaves, .5 to 2 meters long, slender, niimerous, mostly arising 



from the terminal bud and from short sterile branches of the rhi- 



> 



*See The Gains Phyllospadix, by William Russel Dudley, in the Wilder 

 Quarter-Century Book, Sept. 1S93, pp. 403-420, two plates. 



