HOW TO KNOW THE SEAWEEDS 



177b Thalliis irregularly dichotomous or palmate, commonly prolifer- 

 ous. Fig. 224 Phyllophora m 



Figure 224 



Fig. 224. Portions of Fhyllophoia species: A, P. membranifolia (Good- 

 enough & Woodward) J. Agardh; B, P. brodiaei (Turner) J. Agardh, 

 both X 1. 



These are the two common species of Phyllophora of our north- 

 eastern coast. Both are characteristic of fairly deep water, usually 

 well below tidal range, but the former comes into lowest tide pools. 

 Both may be found cast up in drift. They are exceedingly variable in 

 form, often highly irregular and proliferous from old, eroded or dam- 

 aged blades. Three species occur on the Cahfornia coast, but all are 

 relatively scarce, deep water forms which will not often be encountered 

 except in the dredge or at the hand of a deep diver. The recent rise 

 of the sport of aqua-lunging has, however, brought these plants to 

 some notice, for off Scripps Institution of Oceanography at La JoUa, 

 California where aqua-lung training is conducted, the regularly dicho- 

 tomous, broad-segmented Phyllophora clevelandii is one of the few 

 conspicuous algae encountered in the dim depths below 100 feet. 



168 



