22 



The Greenlandic specimens which were salted down together 



with species of Laminaria were of the following sizes, measured 



in centimeters: 



A. B. 



Soaked Dried Soaked Dried 

 Total length 380 323 ... 200 



( length 260 230 ... 140 



The lamina , , , . 



[ greatest breadth ... 60 50 /O 55 



Stipe 120 93 ... 60 



Stipe below rhachis 55 ... 23 



[ length 70 54 + ... 77 



Sporophylls { , , , 



^ ^ "^ ( greatest breadth .. . lo ... ... 10 



These measures of length') both of the lamina, the stipe, 

 and the sporophylls agree well with the measures stated by 

 J. Agardh (1. c). On the contrary the breadth of the lamina 

 of the Greenlandic specimens is somewhat larger than stated 

 by J. Agardh. J. Agardh gives the breadth of the lamina 

 as one foot and a half (= about 47 cm.), and according to 

 Kjellman (Spetsb. Il) the breadth of the lamina is 30 cm. The 

 greatest breadth of the Greenlandic plants is 70 cm. of soaked 

 and 55 of dried material. As no information is given, as to 

 whether the measures of Kjellman and J. Agardh refer to 

 living, soaked, or dried plants, and as furthermore it is most 

 probable that the measured plants were dried, I reckon the 

 difference of breadth between the Greenlandic specimens and 

 the plants from Spitzbergen perfectly unessential. The Green- 



') These measures of plants in wet and dry states prove that their total 

 length is reduced 15 "/o by the drying process, the length of the lamina 

 11,5 %, the breadth of the lamina in one case (A.) 16,6 %, in another 

 case (B.) 21 °lo, and the length of the stipes 22,5 "/o. A single measuring 

 like this does not allow any general conclusion as to the normal reduction 

 by drying of the frond of the several species of Alaria, but as generally 

 the descriptions do not state whether the measures refer to living, soaked, 

 or dried material, it nevertheless shows, that it is not justifiable to let 

 too small a difference of size (breadth or length) have worth as a char- 

 acter of species, variety, or even of form. 



