Fig. 105 Nereocystis luetkeana. A, young plant. B, mature plant. 

 C, branching from bladder. (After Oltmanns.) 



the development of a distinct line along the path of the future slit, 

 the line representing new tissue, which has in consequence very 

 little strength, thus forming an area of weakness along which the 

 sUt commences. The plant is found at a depth of from 5 to 25 m. 

 between Alaska and Los Angeles. Besides being a good source of 

 potash salts, as the ash contains 27-35 P^^ cent potassium chloride, 

 the stalk and vesicle can be treated to yield a candied edible product 

 called 'Seatron'. Locally it is called by a number of names, bull 

 kelp, bladder kelp, ribbon kelp and sea-otter's cabbage. 



In the closely related genus Pelagophycus the spores are said to 

 be non-motile, not even possessing ciHa. Further confirmation of 

 this fact is much to be desired because not only is it an unique state 

 in the family but it also renders comparison with Nematophyton 

 (cf. p. 305) of great interest. Local names employed for Pelago- 

 phycus are elk kelp, sea pumpkin and sea orange. 



N 185 



