HOW TO KNOW THE SEAWEEDS 



Fig. 241. Phyllospadix torreyi S. 

 Watson (Torrey's Surf Grass) X 

 0.4. 



This is one of two species of 

 Surf Grass which occur widely 

 along our Pacific Coast. Unlike 

 Zostera, these plants normally 

 grow in rocky places from inter- 

 tidal levels down to as much as 

 50 feet along surfy shores. P. tor- 

 reyi has narrow, compressed, 

 somewhat wiry leaves and long 

 flowering stems bearing several 

 spadices as shown in the figure. 

 It occurs from northern California 

 southward. Phyllospadix scouleii 

 Hooker, our only other species, 

 has thinner, shorter leaves and 

 short, basal flowering stems bear- 

 ing only one or two spadices. It 

 is often exceedingly abundant, 

 forming extensive emerald green 

 masses on rocky reefs near mean 

 low tide line. It occurs along the 

 entire Pacific Coast from Vancou- 

 ver Island into Mexico. Both of 

 these plants are commonly mis- 

 taken by the layman for eelgrass. 

 The seaweed collector should not 

 overlook the fact that a number 

 of species of algae are to be found 

 hidden beneath the protecting lay- 

 er of surf grass leaves on the reefs. 

 If one simply spreads and opens 

 up the mantle of leaves to reveal 

 the inhabitants under them, he will 

 find many species which other- 

 wise might be passed over un- 

 seen. 



Figure 241 



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