K0N6L. SV. VET. AKADEMIENS HANDLINGAR. BAND 20. N:0 5. 233 



zu der Laminaria caperata zugezahlt werden mtissen». Gobi says that he has arrived 

 at this conclusion by having found in the herbarium of the Botanical Museum of the 

 Petersburg University two specimens of Alaria collected in the North by Postel (both 

 named A. esculenta) which agree in all respects with each other, except that one 

 specimen has the costa inflated and jointed. Gobi considers these two specimens as 

 belonging to the same species and regards this as a proof that the cavity of the costa, 

 or, what is the same thing, of the stipe cannot be accounted of any value whatever as a 

 specific characteristic. From this consideration he forms the conclusion above quoted, 

 that L. longicruris should be struck out, »weil man im entgegengesetzten Falle die erwahnte 

 Orgyia mit einer tonnen-artig gegliederten Rippe dann ebenfalls als eine besondere Art 

 ansehen miisste». It is, as far as I can judge, a specimen of A. fistulosa acknowledged 

 as a valid species by all algologists, that has happened to receive the name of A. 

 esculenta in the above-mentioned herbarium. I have myself in the Behring Sea observed 

 a great many Alarice fistuloscB of different ages, and have thus acquired the decided 

 conviction that, if this alga is not acknowledged as a separate species distinct from A. 

 esculenta and other Alarice, then there can be no question about any species at all 

 either among Laminariacece or algas in general. I am perfectly sure however that Gobi, 

 if he were made better acquainted with A. fistulosa Avhich is one of the greatest and most 

 splendid marine plants, would arrive at a quite different conclusion. Apparently his 

 judgment, otherwise so clear and sure, has been misled by a small, badly preserved, 

 dried specimen. (Cp. Gobi, Algenfl. Weiss. Meer. p. 76 and 78). 



L. longicruris is distinguished from L. caperata {L. Agardhii), besides by the solidity 

 of the stipe and many other characteristics, also by the stipe of the latter alga wanting 

 lacunae mucifersB, which are, on the contrary, to be found in a dense circle in the stipe 

 of the former species. It is curious enough that this fact has escaped the observation 

 of Le Jolis. At least he refers L. longicruris to that group of Laminariacece which 

 is characterized by »canales muciferi in stipite nulli, sub epidermide autem frondis nu- 

 merosi, parvi» (Le Jolis, Exam. p. 589 — 590). 



Habitat. I have not had access to any certain statements about the mode of 

 growth of the present species in the Arctic Sea. Probably it lives gregarious, as other 

 Laminariacece, within the sublitoral zone on rocky and stony bottom. 



Geogr. Distrib. It is known with certainty to occur in Baffin Bay, going here far 

 to the north. According to Ashmead it is to be found in Smith Sound between Lat. 

 N. 78° and 82°. The expedition of Nares also met with it here north of Lat. N. 78°. 

 Probably it lives also in the American Arctic Sea. On the west coast of Greenland it 

 appears to be plentiful. 



Localities: The American Arctic Sea: I suppose the present species to be the alga 

 reported under the name of L. saccharina at Port Kennedy and in Assistance Bay. 



Baffin Bay: Cumberland Sound; the west coast of Greenland common (according 



to J. G- Ag. GrOnl. Alg. p. 110); Godhavn, Melville Bay, Whale Sound, Cape Saumarez, 



Smith Sound north of Lat. N. 78°. 



SO 



K. Vet. Akad, Haadl. Bd 20. S:o 6. "" 



