384 Phyllospadix. [zoe 



ing, leaving the anthers exposed, and-finally shedding the entire 

 spathe. Anther-lobes dehiscent longitudinally, the septum 

 between the two loculi persistent and membranous. Pollens 

 filamentous, one-half to one millimeter long, floating on the sur- 

 face of the sea, when first escaping. 



Fruits compressed, beaked above, sagittate lobed below, seed 

 coats loose and membranous. Embryo compressed consisting 

 largely of an orbicular hypocotyl, 2-lobed posteriorly. Cotyledon 

 thin, oblong descending between the. hypocotyl lobes. 



Sclerencbyma tissue abundantly developed in the flowering 

 stems and the leaves, wanting in the rhizoma. 



The genus differs from Zostera in habitat, number, size, posi- 

 tion, and character of roots and lateral branches, in the rhizoma, 

 the presence of sclerenchyma in the upright stems and leaves, in 

 the dioecious spadices, in the rudimentary anthers on the pistil- 

 late spadix, in well-developed retinacula, form of ovary and 

 hypocotyl, mode of dehiscence of anther, and the presence of a 

 permanent membrane between the loculi of the anther-cells. 



P. serriilatics Rupr., with " leaves toothed," from Alaska, may 

 be at present dismissed as too little known, the description being 

 based, it is said, on leaf- fragments only. Our California species 

 approach too closely to one another; P. Scouleri being variable, 

 while P. Torreyi is pretty constant in its characters; but from 

 our present knowledge it would appear proper to retain them as 

 species. 



The following species are the only ones detected on the coast 

 of California, and the only ones certainly known to exist: 



^ P. Scouleri, Hook., Flora Bor. Amer. ii, p. 171 (1838). 



Flowering stems not common, peduncles short, i to 6 cm. long. 

 Pistillate spadix one; rarely two are present, one at each node. 

 Ripened pistils larger than in the following species. I^eaves flat 

 and much thinner and lighter green, but with more sclerenchyma 

 than in /*. Torreyi; variable in width, i^ to 2 mm. in mature 

 plants, 3 or even 5 mm. on young sterile specimens; sterile 

 plants abundant, growing on the rocks in the heaviest surf and 

 on the most exposed ocean shores. Specimens examined from 

 Tillamook Head, Or. (Henderson), from the mouth of the Rus- 



