Rl SEA AfOSSES. 



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

 ♦'^•' petiole and the air vessel arc successively dcvclo|>ed, 

 that when the tip of the leaflet, finally parts from 

 iiic parent leaf, it will \)c fully formetl, though not full 

 grown. At the same time there will l)c lying inside 

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

 growth, from the most nidimentar)*, to the almost fully 

 funned. I stippose this must be considered the most 

 remarkable feature of the marine flora of the Pacific 

 coast, though it is by no means the onH' wonderful 

 plant that makes its home in those waters. 



Genus.— XFKEOCYSTIS* Post, 6* Kupr. 



HyjiVsyccsTis LOtkeana, Vosi, & Ritr. 



Next to the Afa^rocystis, the Nereocystis is the 

 most remarkable and wonderful plant of the Pacific 

 waters. To quote Harvey, "The Sereotystis of the 

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

 .: uem measuring 300 feet in length, which bears at 

 it^ summit a huge air vessel, six or eight feet long, 

 shai>cd like a great cask, and ending in a tuft of 

 upwards of fiAy forked leaves, each of which is from 



* NcreocyMa » Se»-bLKkkf . 



