Box.— Vol. II.] NOTT—CALIFORNIAN NITOPHYLLA. 21 



Nitophyllum spectabile D. C. Eaton. 



In Farlow, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts and Sci., Vol. XII, 1877, p. 245. 



Nitophyllum spectabile Farlow, W. G., Report U. S. Fish Comm. for 1875, 

 p. 695, 1876; Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts and Sci., Vol. XII, 1877, p. 238. 

 E.\TON, D. C, in Farlow, 1. c, p. 245. Farlow, W. G., Anderson, 

 C. L., and Eaton, D. C, Algse Amer.-Bor. Exsiccatae., No. 67, 1878. 

 Hervey, a. B., Sea Mosses, 1881, p. 174. Anderson, C. L., Zoe, Vol. 



II, 1891, p. 224. Agardh, J. G., Contin. Spec. Gen. et Ord. Alg., Vol. 



III, Pt. 3, 1898, p. 43. 



Syftopsis. — Frond both prostrate and erect. Prostrate frond thin, linear, 

 creeping, destitute of venation; becoming thickened when weathered; branch- 

 ing irregularly; branches rising into erect fronds. 



Erect frond sessile or subsessile, flat, membranous; destitute of venation; 

 irregularly oblong, deeply pinnately lobed, occasionally pal mately segmented, 

 sometimes proliferating; margin entire, sinuate, or lobed. Segments linear, 

 lanceolate, ovate, or cuneate, frequently deeply lobed at apices. 



Sporangia in elliptical sori, disposed at nearly regular intervals over both 

 surfaces of the frond. Antheridia in whitish patches over entire surface of 

 frond, giving to latter an areolate aspect. Cystocarps numerous, conspicu- 

 ous, irregularly disposed over both surfaces, projecting beyond the surface. 



Remarks on the Species. — This plant retains, when dried, 

 the bright, rosy red hue which characterizes it in the Hving 

 state. The species is said by Professor Eaton, who estab- 

 lished it, to reach a length of 50-60 cm. It is one of the 

 largest and finest species of the coast. The general aspect 

 of the frond is much like that of N. fryeanu^n. It differs 

 from that form, however, in not possessing any kind of 

 venation. 



Comparison of N. spectabile with N. ruthenicum (P. & R.) 

 Kjell. aroused a suspicion that the two forms might be iden- 

 tical. A more careful examination showed that, in speci- 

 mens of N. ruthenicum received from Professor Kjellman, 

 the plants were "obsoletely veined below," as is stated in 

 the description of N. ruthenicum (1889, p. 25, PI. I, figs. 

 11-12), and as is shown in the figure. N. spectabile, on 

 the contrary, is totally destitute of venation. All the evi- 

 dence at hand demonstrates that N. spectabile apparently is 

 a distinct species. 



The writer is indebted to Professor W. A. Setchell for 

 the following note upon N. spectabile, through the courtesy 

 of Professor W. G. Farlow, who kindly permitted an exam- 

 ination of his specimens of Nitophylla in connection with 



