HOW TO KNOW THE SEAWEEDS 



184b The large, central axial filament solitary in the medulla. Fig. 

 230 Leptocladia binghamiae 



Figure 230 



Fig. 230. Leptocladia binghamiae J. Agardh 



A. Transection of a mature axis to show the single large central 

 axial filament, X 46. B. A small upper portion of a plant to show 

 the very irregularly pinnate branching, X 2.7. This plant often re- 

 sembles coarse forms of Pikea californica^ but may readily be distin- 

 guished by the transection. It is common in southern California, espe- 

 cially in drift, and reaches 15 to 30 cm. in height. 



It should be pointed out that the genus Farlowia is distinguished 

 from Leptocladia only by means of obscure reproductive characters 

 the examination of which cannot be undertaken by the beginning 

 student. However, as Leptocladia apparently does not occur in central 

 CaUfornia and northward, one may assume that plants keying out here 

 from those regions may well belong to Farlowia. 



174 



