Box.— Vol. II.] NOTT—CALIFORNIAN NITOPHYLLA. 37 



linear and extend in some cases a considerable distance 

 along the margin. When compared with N. harvcyammi, 

 which also bears linear sori arranged likewise in flabellate 

 fashion, it is seen that, while the resemblance in the pro- 

 duction of the sori is strong, N. harveyaniim possesses a 

 darker purplish tint, is not so robust in habit, and is desti- 

 tute of such a well developed system of venation as belongs 

 to N. ru-prechtiamim . 



The agreement between N. ruj^rechtianum and N. viola- 

 cetmi in the production of sori and venation is much more 

 marked, yet the two can be distinguished by the character- 

 istic violet hue and papery texture of N. violaceum, in con- 

 trast to the dull red color and leathery texture of N. 

 ruprechtianum . 



The same variety of position as is seen in the case of the 

 sori may also be observed in the cystocarps. These struct- 

 ures may be borne by JV. ruprechtianum, either upon the 

 surface, when they are scattered at irregular intervals over 

 the entire surface or form a border just within the margin, 

 or they may be borne singly or several together on surface 

 or marginal proliferations. 



The existence of such numerous transition forms between 

 the two extremes of surface and marginal production of the 

 sori, a fact clearly established by a careful examination of 

 material from a long extent of coast, points to the conclu- 

 sion that within the limits of the species known as N. 

 ruprechtianum it is possible to include a wide range of 

 forms characterized by the features already pointed out, 

 and that sufficient grounds do not exist for the establish- 

 ment of several species among which these forms may be 

 distributed. 



The evidence afforded by these transition forms should, 

 therefore, be employed in examining the species estab- 

 lished by Agardh (1876, p. 699; 1898, pp. 93-96), viz., 

 N. jlahelligeriim, JV. marginatum and N. farlowianuni, 

 which, so far as the writer can determine from the de- 

 scriptions, have been split off from N.. ruprechtianum.. 

 The characterization of these three species is made to 



