782 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



Algae. 



Marine Algae of New England.* — Professor Farlow contributes to 

 the " U. S. Fish Commission for 1879 " an account of all the marine 

 algae at present known to occur on the coast of the United States to 

 Eastpool, Maine, with the exception of the diatoms. He remarks 

 that, as regards the marine vegetation of the north-eastern coast of 

 the United States, beginning at Eastport, we have a strongly marked 

 arctic flora, which is a direct continuation of that of Greenland and 

 Newfoundland. Proceeding southwards towards Boston, although the 

 luxuriance of growth is less, the general apj^earance of the flora is 

 unmistakably arctic, with the exception of a few sheltered localities. 

 The northern shore of Cape Cod, from its sandy character, is 

 practically destitute of all species of algas, except a few forms. 

 Passing to the south of Cape Cod, the flora assumes an entirely 

 different aspect, this being the dividing line between a marked 

 northern and southern flora. The number of species described 

 by Professor Farlow is 230, viz. 32 Cryptophycese (6 Chroo- 

 coccacese and 26 Nostochinese) ; 88 Zoosporefe (36 Chlorosporeae, 

 2 BryopsideaB, 1 Botrydiese, and 49 Phteosporeae) ; 11 Oosporese 

 (2 Vaucherieas and 9 Fucaceae) ; and 99 Florideae. These belong to 

 107 genera. The total number of species increases as one goes 

 southwards, the increase being mainly in the Florideas. 



North American Algae. — Several years ago Dr. Farlow, Dr. 



Anderson, and Professor Eaton, began the publication of sets of the 

 marine algae of the eastern and western coasts of North America. 

 The first fasciculus of fifty species appeared in 1877 ; the second, also 

 containing fifty species, in 1878 ; the third, containing thirty species, 

 in 1879. The fourth fasciculus has just been issued, and, like the 

 first and second, includes fifty species. The ' American Naturalist ' f 

 considers that " it may well be said that it is impossible for any one to 

 get anywhere more satisfactory representatives of the 180 species 

 already included in this important distribution. Not only are the 

 specimens all that can be desired, but the eminent qualifications of 

 the editors for this work give an unusual value and high authenticity 

 to the sets." 



Abnormal Fructification in the Florideae.J — The two forms of 

 fructification of the Florideae, the sexual cystocarps and the non- 

 sexual tetraspores, are, with very few exceptions, always found on 

 separate fronds. C. F. Ardissone records two instances to the con- 

 trary, viz. in Callithamnion graniferum (Men. non Kutz.), and 

 Dudresnaya coccinea, where they occur on the same frond ; and in the 

 latter case the ultimate divisions which bear the tetraspores and the 

 cystocarps respectively, are even part of the same branch. It is 

 worthy of note that these specimens of Callithamnion graniferum 



* Farlow, W. G., 'Marine Algse of New England and Adjacent Coast.' 

 (Washington. 1881.) 



t Amer. Natural., xv. (1881) p. 652. 



X Kend. R. 1st. Lombardo, xiv. (1881) Mar. 10. 



