A Monograph of the Genus Alaria. 125 



In the matured forms, however, the sporophylls of this species are 

 found Hmited to a short length of the stipe near the transition 

 point. Tlie part of the stipe which bears the fasciculate sporo- 

 phylls is somewhat more broadened than the naked part. New 

 young sporophylls may grow not only successively above the other, 

 but often from a point between the older ones. This mode of 

 localization of the sporophylls should be distinguished from a con- 

 densed pinnation in w^hich a large number of tlie lower sporophylls 

 has dropped owing to age. Kjellman, in defining the three species, 

 A. prcelonga, A. lancaokda, and A. laticosta, made no distinction 

 in the modes of disposition of the sporophylls and simply diagnosed 

 " sporophyllis numerosissimis, fasciculatis, . ..." 



The size of sporophylls and blades, consequently the breadth 

 of the midribs are variable in this species.' This is perhaps due 

 more to tl^e roughness or salinity of the water than to the age 

 of the plant. Kjellmax appears to have put too much stress on 

 this sort of variation as to describe individuals of different size in 

 different specific position. 



Remarks on the sijnomjms. I propose to combine A. laticosta 

 KjELLM. with the present. The former was established from a 

 single specimen cast ashore in the same locality as the latter. By 

 comparing the type specimens of both at Upsala and referring to 

 their descriptions I can not find out any marked difference between 

 them except in tlie breadths of the midribs. This is by no means 

 of specific importance as can be proved from the specimens at my 

 disposal. In the type specimens of A. ancjusta the midribs vary 

 from 4 mm. to 6 mm. in breadth in the dried state, while the 

 type of A. laticosta measures 9.5 mm. Kjellman gave the measure- 

 ments from wet preparations. 



