HOW TO KNOW THE SEAWEEDS 



90a Thallus little or not at all branched except at the base 



91 



90b Thallus branched throughout 94 



91a Plants less than V2 meter long; hairs, if present, in tufts, 



92 



91b Plants usually more than V2 meter long (1-5 meters); thallus sur- 

 face covered with fine hairs, at least on young parts. (See Fig. 

 32) Chorda (in part) 



92a Thallus unconstricted; groups of sporangia and hairs appearing 

 as dark flecks. Fig. 126 Asperococcus echinatus 



Fig. 126. Asperococcus echinatus (Martens) 

 Greville 



An entire plant, X 1.5, showing the 

 abundant small tufts of hairs and sporan- 

 gia. This species will be encountered as a 

 common epiphyte on various species of 

 Fucus along the New England coasts. It 

 also occurs on other substrates in some- 

 what sheltered places below low tide level. 

 It will not be found throughout the year, 

 for the plants mature and fruit during the 

 spring and by midsummer have largely de- 

 cayed and disappeared. 



Figure 126 



92b Thallus constricted or unconstricted, without groups of sporangia 

 and hairs aggregated in tufts and appearing as dark flecks .... 93 



96 



