514 University of California Puhlications in Botany [Vol. 8 



trichum Kuetz., Pogotrichum Reinke, Litosiphon Harv. and Corycus 

 Kjellm. We know of but one of these in our territory, viz., Punctaria. 

 Structurally the simplest forms of the Punetariaceae, as generally 

 understood, are almost monosiphonous. The more complex forms 

 usually included in the family are either filamentous and solid, saccate 

 or membranaceous. They agree in general in that the zoosporangia 

 and gametangia arise as transformed single surface cells, projecting 

 beyond the surface but slightly, if at all, but if projecting not accom- 

 panied by pluricellular paraphyses. They form fairly definite and 

 circumscribed sori. 



The Punetariaceae have for their type genus Punctaria Grev. whose 

 type species is P. latifolia Grev. Their relation is closely with 

 Striariaceae. on the one hand, and the Scytosiphonaceae on the other. 

 This relationship is so close that it is largely a matter of convenience 

 to separate them. From the Striariaceae they may be separated by 

 the tendency of their fronds even in the simplest Desmotrichum 

 species, to develop a membrane rather than a cylindrical frond. In 

 case this distinction is made, Pogotrichum, and Litosiphon, under such 

 understanding, should be referred rather to the Striariaceae and to 

 the neighborhood of Stictyosiphon. While the species of Desmotrichum 

 and- Punctaria are both supposed to have hairs, yet some of our Pacific 

 coast species of Punctaria have no trace of hairs in adult plants. There 

 is an absence of hairs also in the known species of Phaeosaccion and of 

 Omphalophyllum, two genera usually referred to the Punetariaceae. 

 The two genera just mentioned also lack specialized sporangial cells in 

 groups and it may be found desirable to separate them and give them 

 a family designation of their own. Neither of these genera have 

 been detected as yet in our territory, so that we have no opportunities 

 for careful study. Corycus of Kjellman is hollow and, so far as 

 descriptions inform us, devoid of hairs in the adult stages. It is 

 flattened, even if it is hollow, and seems to belong in the Punetariaceae 

 on that account as well as agreeing with both Striariaceae and 

 Punetariaceae in having circumscribed sori which do not project 

 beyond the surface. 



The Punetariaceae differ from the Scytosiphonaceae in having the 

 sori circumscribed and, commonly, of regular shape. The Scyto- 

 siphonaceae have extensive, indefinite and confluent sori and, thus far, 

 have been detected only with gametangia. 



