Tin: Fl'CACE.E OF JAl'AX. 7Ô 



Id.: Phyc. Jaj). Xov. ]\ 4o. (excl. si/n.). — OKA>r.: Emnncr. 

 Alg. of Jap. p. 144. 

 = Sargassitm polyoclontwn J. Ag.: Anal. Alg. Coiit. 111. j). 51. — Okam.: 

 iMiimier. AIlt. of Ja]), p. 145. 



Description of the species. The frond is 2-5 feet in height, 

 frequently attaining 16 feet in total length. The root is scutellate, 

 irregularly lobed on the margin. From the top of the root rises a 

 single erect stem which, in full grown forms, sends upwards lateral 

 branches. The stem of a young frond of about half a foot in height 

 is subcylindrical with small, sharp, spinous processes over the surface. 

 In more fully grown individuals these spinous processes usually 

 disappear at the basal region and the stem becomes 4-5 sided with 

 the scars of the basal leaves spirally disposed (PI. X. fig. 2, 3). 

 The lower portions, however, of the stem as well as the branches 

 retain the processes for a considerable time. In the middle and 

 upper portions the stems are cylindrical, smooth and cartilagineous, 

 usually with shallow longitudinal furrows running downward from 

 the insertion points of the leaves. They are loosely twisted. The 

 interfolial distance varies according to the habit of the plants, 

 ranging from a few centimeters to 20cm. 



The basal leaves of young sterile plants are characteristic (PI. 

 X. fig. 1). They are linear-spathulate, alternately pinnately sected, 

 the sini being round and deep quite up to the midrib in the basal 

 part of a leaf, but gradually becoming shallower and narrower to- 

 wards the apex. The apex of a leaf is obtuse, or often roundish- 

 truncate: segments truncate, directed slightly upward, and dentated 

 at the apices. The size of segments in a leaf gently diminishes 

 downwards until finally they are reduced to small but sharj) spinous 

 processes on the filiform petiole. The midrib is slightly elevated 

 but sharply defined, and vanishes near the apex. On the upper 

 surface of the rib there are frequently several spinous processes 



