84 SEA MOSSES. 



The splitting is a natural process, and as it proceeds, 

 the petiole and the air vessel are successively developed, 

 so that when the tip of the leaflet, finally parts from 

 the parent leaf, it will be fully fonned, though not full 

 grown. At the same time there will be lying inside 

 of this four or five other leaflets, in various stages of 

 growth, from the most rudimentary, to the almost fully 

 formed. I suppose this must be considered the most 

 remarkable feature of the marine flora of the Pacific 

 coast, though it is by no means the only wonderful 

 plant that makes its home in those waters. 



Genus.— JVB/^EOCVST/S* Post. &> Rupr. 



Nereocystis Lutkeana, Post. & Rupr. 



Next to the Macrocystis, the Nereocystis is the 

 most remarkable and wonderful plant of the Pacific 

 waters. To quote Harvey, " The Nereocystis of the 

 North West coast, is said, when fully grown, to have 

 a stem measuring 300 feet in length, which bears at 

 its summit a huge air vessel, six or eight feet long, 

 shaped like a great cask, and ending in a tuft of 

 upwards of fifty forked leaves, each of which is from 



* Nereocystis — Sea-bladdef, 



