MARINE ALG.E OF NEW ENGLAND. 119 



in Callithamnion, held together by a gelatinous envelope. Thetricbophoric apparatus 

 and the early stagesof the development of the cystocarps, however, scarcely differ in the 

 two genera. The species of Spermothamnion have been considered related to Wrangelia, 

 but if we are to regard W. penidllata as the type of the last-named genus, as has been 

 done by Thuret and Boruetin Notes Algologiques, the resemblance is not close. In spite 

 of the fact that the fruit of Spermothamnion is not a true favella, there is little doubt 

 that the genus should be placed in the Ceramiece, near Callithamnion. Tbe development 

 of the genus has been very thoroughly studied and has formed the subject of several 

 admirable papers, among which may be mentioned Pringsheim's account of S. roseolum, 

 in his Beitriige zur Morphologie der Meeres-Algen ; Nsegeli on S. Turneri and hermaphro- 

 ditum, in Beitriige zur Morphologie und Systematik der Ceramiacese ; and Thuret and 

 Bornet on Spermothamnion flaoellatum, in Notes Algologiques. 



S. Turneri, Aresch. (Callithamnion Turneri, Ag.; Phyc. Brit., PI. 

 179; Ner. Am. Bor., Part III, p. 241.— S. roseolum, Pringsh., I.e.? — 

 Herpothamnion Turneri, Naeg.) 



Fronds forming densely matted tufts, procumbent filaments branch- 

 ing, attached by disk-like cells, vertical filaments one to three inches 

 high, simple or slightly branching, naked below, pinnate above with 

 opposite or sometimes alternate spreading pinnate branches, ultimate 

 branches long and slender, often ending in a hair; antheridia ovate or 

 cylindrical, sessile on the upper side of the branches ; cystocarps involu- 

 crare, terminal on the branches; tetraspores tripartite, borne on the 

 upper side of the ramuli, either solitary and pedicellate or clustered and 

 sessile on short fastigiate branches. 



Var. variabile, Harv. 



Branches and branchlets alternate or secund. 



In very dense tufts on algss at low-water mark or in deep water. 



Common in Long Island Sound; var. variabile, Boston, Dr. Durkee. 



A species which is often found washed ashore in dense globose tufts from our southern 

 limit to Nantucket. At the latter locality it is often found in very large quantities 

 washed from deep water by the surf on Siasconsett Beach. The filaments are delicate 

 and of a pleasant lake color. North of Capo Cod the species is hardly known with cer- 

 tainty. Specimens collected at Noank, Conn., have both tetraspores and young cysto- 

 carps on the same individual, but we have never seen antheridia on American speci- 

 mens. Our plant seems to be the same as that figured hj Pringsheim under the name 

 of S. roseolum, and also corresponds closely to the species of that name in Algas Scandi- 

 navian, No. 83. It appears without doubt to be the C. Turneri of the Phycologia Bri- 

 tannica and the Nereis, but we are unable to say whether it is the true C. roseolum of 

 Agardh. 



Suborder CERAMlEiE. 



Fronds filamentous or compressed, either monosiphonous or with a 

 more or less corticated monosiphonous axis ; antheridia in sessile tufts 

 or patches or in a series of whorls ; cystocarps (favella}) composed of 

 spores arranged without order and surrounded by a gelatinous envelope, 

 naked or involucrate. 



