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



According to Agardh twelve species of Nitophylhim and 

 two species of Netiroglosstim are assigned to the west coast 

 of North America. The complete list is as follow^s, viz.: 

 N. farlowianum J. Ag. (iV. ruprechtianum)\ N. fiahelli- 

 geruin J. Ag. (N. ruprecktianuvi); N. fryeamim Harv. (N. 

 fryeanum); N. latissimum J. Ag. ; N. macroglossum J. Ag. 

 (N. latissimuni); N. imiUilohwrn J. Ag. ; N. ma7'ginatum 

 J. Ag. (JV. 7-up7'echtianum) ; JSF. rzifrechtianum J. Ag. ; N. 

 spcctabile Eaton.; N. stenoglossum J. Ag. (N. violacetim); 

 N. iincinatiLin J. Ag. ; N. violacetim J. Ag. ; Neuroglossum 

 andersonianum J. Ag. (Nit. andersonianmii); Neuroglos- 

 sum lohuUferum J. Ag. (Nit. violacetim ?). 



Agardh, basing his distinction between species upon dif- 

 ferences in color, texture, form of frond, and position of 

 cystocarps, as well as upon the more reliable characters, 

 such as shape and position of sori, and venation of frond, 

 regards all these forms established by him as valid species. 



It should be observed, however, in regard to these forms, 

 that the descriptions are in many cases, as admitted by the 

 author himself, drawn up from fragmentary or imperfect 

 specimens. Further, the characteristics which are em- 

 ployed to a considerable extent by Agardh as distinctions 

 between species, and even between subsections, are vari- 

 able to a marked degree. Observation of a considerable 

 range of forms by the writer has led to the conclusion that 

 sufficient allowance has not been made for the variations 

 which require that great freedom should be used in defining 

 the boundaries of species occurring on the Californian coast. 

 A distinction should be made between the more variable 

 characters such as color, texture, form of frond, and posi- 

 tion of the cystocarps, and the less variable characters, such 

 as shape and position of sori, and venation of frond. 



After a careful examination of the descriptions of the 

 species as formulated by Agardh, and further study and 

 comparison of the variations of the plants themselves, the 

 writer is obliged to conclude that the degree of elasticity 

 which seems desirable in considering Californian forms has 

 not been permitted in regulating the limits of a species, or 



