BOT.— Vol. II.] NOTT— CALIFORNIA N NITOPHYLLA. 1 7 



Synopsis. — Frond both prostrate and erect. Prostrate frond creeping, 

 slender, linear, much branched; without rhizoids, midrib, nerves, or veins; 

 margin serrate or toothed. 



Erect frond subsessile or shortly stalked, flat, membranous; without mid- 

 rib, but with numerous, conspicuous nerves and veins; palmately divided or 

 segmented, frequently proliferating; with margin usually entire, occasionally 

 minutely serrate. Segments linear or wedge-shaped, usually expanded and 

 lobed at apices. Stalk, when present, usually short, occasionally longer, 

 formed by the wearing away of frond on margins at base and subsequent 

 thickening of nerves and remaining portion of frond. Nerves and veins 

 numerous, conspicuous, extending over almost entire surface of frond, evan- 

 escent in outer lobes, branching and anastomosing, frond thus conspicuously 

 areolate. 



Proliferations usually numerous, especially upon more reduced portions of 

 frond, membranous, segmented or lobed, nerved and veined. 



Sporangia in minute sori scattered over both surfaces of the frond between 

 the nerves and veins, in the conspicuous areoles. 



Antheridia forming dull whitish patches over the entire surface, the latter 

 becoming ridged, indented, or rugose. 



Cystocarps numerous, large, irregularly disposed over both surfaces, pro- 

 jecting beyond the surface. 



Remarks on the Species. — The color of JV. latissimutn 

 does not change to any extent when dried. In the living 

 state the tint is a deep, 4"ich, lake red, becoming a shade 

 darker in the dried condition. Plants frequently occur 

 which attain a length of 35-40 cm., with the frond divided 

 irto numerous segments from 3-5 cm. in width. The spe- 

 cies is one of the handsomest and most luxuriant in habit 

 of any of the forms inhabiting the coast. 



JV. latisstmufn is characterized by its broadly expanded 

 fronds, divided into large, rounded iobes and segments, and 

 by the extensive network of prominent nerves and veins 

 covering the surface. This conspicuous network gives to 

 the surface a markedly areolated appearance, which serves 

 to distinguish the plants from all others of the genus as 

 represented on Calif ornian shores. The frond frequently 

 proliferates along the margin, thus giving rise to numerous 

 ovate or lanceolate proliferations, which possess a well 

 marked venation and often produce sporangia and cysto- 

 carps. Proliferations likewise appear freely from reduced 

 portions of the frond. 



(2) July 26, 1900. 



