1925] Setchell-Gardner: Melanophyceae 699 



Growing mostly on mud flats at extreme high-tide limit, or even 

 considerably above, among various salt marsh plants, covered more 

 or less by fresh water. Yakutat Bay, Alaska, to Puget Sound, 

 Washington. 



Kjellman, Om Spetsb. Thall., II, 1877a, p. 4; De-Toni, Syll. Alg., 

 1895, p. 203 ; Setchell and Gardner, Alg. N.W. Amer., 1903, p. 285 ; 

 Gardner, Genus Fiicus, 1922, p. 37, pi. 37. 



Rev. Albin Johnson, no. 5712 (Herb. Univ. Calif., no. 99121), 

 Yakutat Bay, Alaska; Gardner, no. 2256 (Herb. Univ. Calif., no. 

 201154), Sitka, Alaska; T. C. Frye (Herb. Univ. Calif., no. 132931), 

 Tokeland, Washington. 



After considerable observation in several different localities, we 

 have come to the conclusion that f. nanus cannot be considered as a 

 distinct form of any one species, but is in reality composed of a mix- 

 ture of dwarfed plants of whatever species or forms of species that 

 happen to inhabit the region. The dwarfs are always found on mud 

 flats, salt marshes, and quite commonly at the mouths of rivers and 

 smaller streams where such mud flats and marshes may occur. At 

 extreme high tides, frequently, a great abundance of plants, of what- 

 ever species of Fucus happens to be growing in the vicinity, are thrown 

 up and lodge among other plants that grow there. The spores are shed, 

 and, being in a moist place, they germinate and persist for a longer 

 or shorter time. The plants are always much gnarled and distorted, 

 and rarely come to fruit. At the mouth of the Indian River at Sitka, 

 Alaska, is a favorable place for the study of such dwarfed plants. 

 There are many different forms of Funis growing in the vicinity, and 

 a great many plants are constantl}^ being cast up on the gradually 

 sloping flat at the mouth of the stream. There are enormous numbers 

 of dwarfed plants in all possible stages of development and distortion. 

 One can come to no other conclusion than that these are dwarfed 

 plants, that they are the offspring of whatever plants may by chance 

 be thrown up there, and that their specific identity cannot be traced, 

 growing as they do in such abnormal environmental conditions. 



5. Fucus nitens Gardner 

 Plate 102 



Fronds moderately flaccid, coriaceous, 30-40 cm. high, regularly 

 dichotomous, dark brown to yellowish brown, very dark on drying ; 

 segments strict, 9-18 mm. wide, smooth and glossy, cuneate, terminal 



