496 University of California Publications in Botany [^"ol. 8 



Kuckuck (Bemerkimgen, 1894, p. 244 et seq.) figures and describes 

 ''plurilocular sporangia" (gametangia) in R. clavata and in R. 

 Bornetii. These were found on the same individual and often in the 

 same sorus with zoosporangia. The material showing these organs 

 was collected in the winter. The study of the genus made from fresh 

 material and from herbarium material at our disposal, unfortunately 

 has been made on summer collections only. Study of the winter mate- 

 rial may reveal the presence of this mefhod of reproduction in the 

 species on our coast. Borgesen, however (1902, p. 482), reported hav- 

 ing discovered " plurilocular sporangia" on R. verrucosa collected in 

 May and July. 



The Linkia clavata of Carmichael was proposed for specimens from 

 Appin on Loch Linnpe in the west of Scotland. Harvey adopted the 

 specific name of Carmichael, but removed the species to the genus 

 Myrionema, without, however, having seen a specimen. The Crouan 

 brothers referred the species to Ralfsia, quoting Harvey and thus 

 establishing the present binomial. The specimen referred by the 

 Crouans to their Ralfsia clavata seems to be R. verriwosa (cf. Reinke, 

 1889a, p. 48, as well as Crouan, Florule du Finistere, 1867, pi. 26, 

 fig. 168). Farlow (Mar. Alg. N.E., 1881, p. 88) used the correct 

 binomial and states that "American specimens resemble perfectly the 

 No. 56 of Crouan 's Algues marines du Finistere," but, as noted above, 

 he gives dimensions for the sporangia which are twice as long and 

 several times broader than those which we have assumed to belong to 

 the type of the species. No. 418 of the Phycotheca Boreali-Americana, 

 collected at Spectacle Island, Maine, seems perfectly in agreement 

 with European material from Reinbold and Kylin and the mature 

 sporangia in all average about 60ja high and 18ja in diameter. Our 

 Alaskan specimens agree with these in every detail. We have seen 

 no New England specimens with sporangia more nearly approximating 

 the dimensions given by Farlow than the European and Alaskan 

 specimens, although an occasional sporangium may be as long as 90/*, 

 but such is a very rare occurrence. 



