1925] 8 etchell -Gardner : MeJanophyceae 393 



The genus Sphacelaria is composed of species attached in various 

 "ways to the substratum or host, but which lacks any pronounced dimor- 

 phism such as is to be found in some genera of the Sphacelariaceae, 

 The erect filaments are always more or less branched and with one 

 exception show primary vertical partitions of the cells over the greater 

 extent of their axes and in certain species also show secondary trans- 

 verse partitions. Hairs may be present or absent and simple or 

 geminate. Rhizoids may, or may not, be present and may form corti- 

 cations. Certain species produce propagula of distinctive form while 

 others may lack them. The sporangia and gametangia are borne on 

 the axes, never on the rhizoids as in Chaetoptcris. The gametangia 

 are plurilocular and all alike or differentiated into oogonia and 

 antheridia. 



Our species are few and not at all abundant or well known. Care- 

 ful search for additional material is much to be desired. We have 

 relied particularly upon Sauvageau's different papers collected under 

 the general title of Remarques sur les Sphacelariacees (1900-1914) for 

 guidance in the determination of our west coast forms. We have 

 arranged the material accessible to us under six species, awaiting 

 further opportunities for study and verification. 



Key to the Species 



1. Erect plants showing both primary transverse and longitudinal and regular 



secondary transverse partitions 1. S. racemosa (p. 393) 



1. Erect plants showing, regularly, only primary transverse and longitudinal 



partitions 2 



2. Propagula stout with short or no projecting rays 3 



2. Propagula slender with elongated rays 4 



3. Rays of propagula of 2-3 short cells, attenuated outwards.. 2. S. brevicomis (p. 394) 



3. Rays of propagula usually of a single cell, broad 3. S. califomica (p. 395) 



4. Rays of propagula simple 5 



4. Rays of propagula bifurcate 6. S. didichotoma (p. 397) 



5. Rays of projiagula strictly two 5. S. furcigera (p. 396 ) 



5. Rays of propagula in twos and threes in same individual... 4. S. subfusca p. 395) 



1. Sphacelaria racemosa Grev. 



Erect filaments forming tufts 1-7 cm. high, dark brown, irregularly 

 branched above, arising from a very small, prostrate thallus ; joints 

 showing several longitudinal and more or less regular secondary 

 transverse partitions 55-70;tt diam. below ; propagula unknown ; zoo- 

 sporangia 40-50ja long by about -iOfi diam. ("60-70/^ x 52-60ju"), 

 borne on short (1 or 2 celled) pedicels irregularly racemosely arranged 

 on small lateral branchlets; gametangia (not seen in our specimens) 

 ovate-cylindrical or cylindrical racemosely arranged. 



