14 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. [Proc. 3D Ser. 



perennial. Some species, again, notably N. violaceum and 

 N. 7'iiprechtmnum, bear marginal proliferations in great 

 numbers, upon which appear the sporangia and cystocarps. 



Anthcridia and Cystocarps. — The antheridia and cysto- 

 carps need be mentioned only in a cursory way, inasmuch 

 as they take no prominent part in the identification of the 

 species. The antheridia first rnake their appearance as 

 whitish patches distributed rather evenly over the surface 

 of the frond. As they mature, the frond becomes wrinkled 

 or rugose to a marked degree. Antheridial plants have 

 now been found in three species, viz., N. fryeanum, N. 

 latissimum and N. spectabile, in considerable abundance. 

 The cystocarps are conspicuous structures, making their 

 appearance irregularly over the surface. In some species 

 the most weathered or reduced plants seem to be favored in 

 the production of cystocarps; and in this case the latter 

 sometimes occur in clusters of proliferations produced from 

 the surface or worn margins of the frond. 



Parasites. — In only one instance have the plants of Nito- 

 phylliim been found to harbor parasites. As a rule, the 

 species are quite free from epiphytes and parasites. 



Goniinophyllum hiiffhami Batters has been found by the 

 writer (1897, p. 81) upon N. ruprechtianum. The plants are 

 a pale pink color, contrasting strongly with the deep lake red 

 of the host plant. The parasite seems to prefer the lower 

 portions of the frond as its habitat, occurring on the Nito- 

 phyllum near its base much more frequently than elsewhere. 

 It grows in patches, extending in some cases an inch in 

 breadth, while the individual fronds reach a height of ten 

 millimeters. So far, Gonimophylhim has been found only 

 upon the tetrasporic N. ruprechtiamim . 



Agardh (1898, p. 88) is of the opinion that Gonimophyl- 

 him is a monstrous form of N. laceratum. He suggests 

 further that N. laceratum occasionally may be hermaphro- 

 ditic, contrary to the normal course of development, and that 

 this monstrous form may be the structure concerned in the 

 phenomenon. 



Geographical Distribution of the Genus. — The genus 

 Nitophyllum is distributed universally throughout the oceans 



