MARINE ALG^E OF BEAUFORT, N. C. 499 



KEY TO SPECIES. 

 a. Apices of branches prolonged ' 5. 



b. Fronds delicate, slender 3 . c. tenuissima (p. 500). 



bb. Fronds coarse, robust, densely branched i. C. atropurpurea (p. 499). 



bbb. Fronds coarse, robust, loosely branched 2. C. littoralis (p. 499). 



aa. Apices of branches forming crateriform depressions c. 



c. Fronds coarse, rigid, brittle, branching sparse below, often dense above, color dark 



reddish purple 4 . C. dasyphylla (p. 500). 



cc. Fronds of moderate coarseness, flexuous, branching uniformly profuse, color pinkish 



straw ; 5- C. sedifolia (p. 501). 



1. Chondria atropurpurea Harvey. 



Chondria atropurpurea, Harvey, 1853, p. 22, pi. 18 E. 

 Chondria atropurpurea, De Toni, 1903, p. 831. 



Fronds robust, rather coarse, 5 to 26 cm. tall, 0.7 to 2 mm. in diameter in main stems, rather pyrami- 

 dal in outline, densely, irregularly, alternately branched, main branches elongated, spreading, sometimes 

 virgate, sparingly beset with secondary branches and branchlets, longer and shorter branches inter- 

 spersed without order, the ultimate branchlets and usually the secondary branches tapering at each end, 

 having the apices prolonged and being markedly constricted at the base, branchlets arising singly or 

 somewhat fasciculately from superficial depressions, spindle-shaped; tetrasporangia in the ultimate 

 branchlets; cystocarps broad-ovate, sessile on the ultimate branchlets; texture cartilaginous, firm; 

 color usually dark reddish purple, sometimes lighter and yellowish. 



South Carolina to Florida; Brazil; Japan. 



One specimen on shell between jetties, Fort Macon, Beaufort, N. C., August, 1906? 



To this species is referred with considerable doubt one specimen from Beaufort. The species tias 

 not been observed elsewhere by the author, but should be included as it certainly occurs within our 

 range, the type being from Charleston, S. C. The habit is similar to that of C. dasyphylla, from which it 

 is distinguished by its prolonged apices and sometimes by its lighter color. The Beaufort specimen does 

 not show the constrictions at the bases of the secondary branches, the marked constrictions at the bases 

 of the branchlets, or the origin of the latter from superficial depressions, as is characteristic of the species; 

 but resembles the species in other respects. If this determination is correct, this is the northern known 

 limit of the species. 



2. Chondria littoralis Harvey. Figs. 36 and 37; PI. CVII, fig. i. 



Chondria littoralis, Harvey, 1853, p. 22. 

 Chondria littoralis, De Toni, 1903, p. 832. 

 P. B.-A. Fasc. D, No. XCVIII. 



Frond robust, rather slender, loto 35 cm. tall, 0.8 to 2 mm. in diameter in main stems, often pyram- 

 idal in outline, irregularly or sometimes somewhat dichotomously loosely much branched, main branches 

 elongated, flexuous, tapering, sometimes almost naked and virgate, sometimes more or less densely beset 

 with secondary branches and branchlets, apices more or less prolonged, branchlets about 3 to 25 mm. long, 

 more or less numerous, sometimes crowded, spindle-shaped, constricted at the bases and more or less 

 prolonged at the apices; tetrasporangia borne below the apices of ultimate branchlets; cystocarps ovate, 

 sessile on the ultimate branchlets; texture fleshy cartilaginous; color light straw red. 



Florida; West Indies; Mexico; Bermuda. 



Sometimes fairly abundant on Bogue Beach, Beaufort, N. C. 



The determination of the specimens referred to this species is made with some doubt, but the plants 

 resemble, in most respects, specimens of this species in the herbaria visited, and seem to agree with the 

 description of the species. Among these Beaufort specimens there is considerable variation, the habit 

 being irregular or fairly regular, the branching being more or less profuse, and the apices being conspicu- 

 ously prolonged, slightly prolonged, or sunken; the habit is usually open; two specimens from Bogue 

 Beach, August, 1907, and August, 1908, respectively, have the .habit of Gracilaria conferuoides , bearing 

 elongated branches arising regularly, and rather few, inconspicuous branchlets. Only tetrasporic fruits 

 have been observed. Whether this determination is correct or not, the species may be expected within 



