264 ALLAN HANCOCK PACIFIC EXPEDITIONS VOL. 3 



Two Other species have been found which show the same anatomical 

 structures as fVurdemannia: rounded tip without apical cell, central 

 medullary cone of elongated cells. These, however, are much larger in 

 size and do not develop the closely matted habit. Some of them correspond 

 perfectly with the type of Gelidiopsis tenuis S. & G., while the largest 

 specimens, 8-10 cm., are very much like Gelidiopsis variabilis. More de- 

 tailed notes on these plants will be found below. 



As Feldmann and Hamel have stated (loc. cit., p. 263) "Cette Alge 

 n'est pas une Gelidiacee ; elle en dififere par sa structure de type fastigie 

 et ses tetrasporanges zones. Elle est generalment rangee parmi les Gigarti- 

 nales, mais, en I'absence de cystocarpe, sa position systematique est encoure 

 douteuse." 



Genus GELIDIOPSIS Schmitz 



Schmitz, 1895-1896, p. 143; Feldmann, 1931, p. 156; B0rgesen, 1937, 

 p. 321. 

 Since the original investigations of Schmitz in 1895, no authors have 

 observed or studied cystocarps of this genus. Schmitz originally placed it 

 with Ceratodictyon in the family Rhodymeniaceae. Feldmann does not 

 offer further suggestions or elucidations on its proper position. Okamura, 

 1936, has likewise placed it beside Ceratodictyon, but in the Gracilaria- 

 ceae. B0rgesen, loc. cit., p. 321, has not followed these precedents and 

 has placed it in the Gelidiaceae. This latter interpretation seems to be the 

 best, for Wurdernannia, with which it is most closely allied anatomically, 

 in the absence of knowledge of its sexual nature, is generally placed here. 

 With this consideration in mind, we will allow it to stand in this group, 

 awaiting more abundant knowledge of the life histories of our plants. 



Gelidiopsis tenuis S. & G. 

 Plate 70, Fig. 1 (right) 



Setch. k Gard., 1924, p. 749, pi. 22, Rg. 2. 



Fronds 2-4 cm. long, .5-. 8 mm. in diam., cylindrical to compressed, 

 sparsely and irregularly branched, long attenuate, semiacute; without an 

 apical cell ; medulla of elongated cells in longitudinal section ; reproduc- 

 tion unknown. 



Several collections which undoubtedly are identical with the type of 

 Gelidiopsis tenuis are on hand from a number of stations in the Gulf and 

 from Clarion Island. They are similar in structure to JVurdemannia 

 miniata but are larger in all dimensions and do not form densely felted 

 mats like that species. Though fertile material is still unknown, this 



