Contribution. I. 7& 



Laminaria Gunneri Fosl. 



Lam. Norw. p. 54. 

 Descr. Laminaria Gunneri Fosl. 1. c. 

 Fig „ „ » „ t. 2. 



I have been uncertain whether this species ought to be 

 kept distinct, or only to be regarded as a form of L. nigripes. 

 I have latterly got a number of other and better conserved 

 specimens than I had by the description of this plant. I 

 then quoted the colour to be very dark, almost black, and 

 the lamina inpellucid. This appears now chiefly to be founded 

 thereon, that the specimens probably have lain on the beach 

 for some time. The colour really is only a little darker 

 than by L. nigripes. 



After a careful examination of the materials I have at 

 my disposal I find, however, that the plant in question must 

 be considered a distinct species. It is smaller than L. nigripes. 

 The length is varying between 30 and 60 cm. By 14 speci- 

 mens the stipe has a length of 7 — 22 cm.., and the length of 

 the lamina by 26 specimens is 20 — 40 cm. 1 L. nigripes is 

 commonly much larger and a more vigorous plant. Of this 

 plant I have collected specimens, the lamina of which has a 

 length of 130 cm. (a part of the stipe is wanting), and its 

 consistency is less solid than by L. Gunneri. By a transverse 

 section of the middle part of the lamina of L. Gunneri, the 

 cells of the intermediate layer are more equal in size in the 

 greater part ot the layer, angular or rounded-angular, not 

 seldom squarish, with thick walls and often ranged in more 

 or less regular longitudinal series. The named layer is more 

 or less sharply defined from the middle one, and the latter 

 is thicker in proportion to the intermediate layer than by 

 L. nigripes. By a similar section of L. nigripes the cells of 

 the intermediate layer are more irregular with regard to the 

 form as well as the size, with thinner walls, and they are 



'. 12 specimens are wanting the lower part of the stipe. 



