200 Chaetophoraceae 



has been undergoing investigation in the above species although it 

 is not entirely in agreement with it. It does agree in one of the 

 main points, that of forming groups of short, branch-bearing cells. 

 * * * As this is a characteristic of no other species, to my knowl- 

 edge, it seems necessary to connect it with that name." 



Possibly the plant treated by this author was an abnormal form 

 of Stigeocloniiim flagelliferum ; it certainly was not typical of the 

 species. The point to be noted is, that because it agreed in one of 

 the main points, the author found it necessary to connect it with 

 that name, and thereupon proceeded to rewrite the description of 

 one of the best characterized species in the genus in such a way as 

 to fit her plant, changing some important points so as to transform 

 the character of the description — and all this to avoid adding to 

 the existing confusion ! 



It might be remarked parenthetically, that in almost every 

 instance where Wolle stretched a description in order to squeeze 

 his specimen into it, his form has to be questioned, and less con- 

 fusion would have resulted by the addition of several new species. 



It is inconceivable that one having any familiarity with Kiitz- 

 ing's plates — and lacking such familiarity one ought never to at- 

 tempt to treat this genus — should have described the branches of 

 vS. flagelliferum as "rarely opposite," thus removing it from the 

 group of species with which it is really most closely associated. 



The fact that Pilinia dihtta Wood represents a stage in the 

 life history of some specimens of Stigeoclonium is most admirably 

 worked out in Miss Tilden's paper. The conclusion, however, 

 that Pilinia as a genus is only a form genus to be included in 

 Stigeocloniiim is wholly unwarranted. It overlooks the true Pilinia, 

 P. rimosa Kutz., and the other marine forms, Acroblaste and 

 Cliaetophora maritima, that have been associated with it. 



4. Myxonema subuligerum (Kutz.) 



Stigeoclonium subuligerum Kutz. Spec. Alg. 354. 1849; Tab. 

 Phyc. 3: pi. 5 . f. 1. 1853. 



S. protensum subuligerum Rabenh. Flor. Eur. Alg. 3 : 378. 

 1868. (?) DeToni, Syll. Alg. 1 : 200. 1889. 



More or less tufted, 5 mm. or more in length ; filaments very 

 much branched ; main branches opposite or approximate, spread- 



