KONGL. SV. VET. AKADEMIENS HANDLINGAR. BAND 20. N:0 5. 233 
zu der Laminaria caperata zugezihlt werden miissen». Gort 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 Posver (both 
named A. esculenta) which agree in all respects with each other, except that one 
specimen has the costa inflated and jointed. Gopnr 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 “4. longicruris should be struck out, »weil man im entgegengesetzten Falle die erwihnte 
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. /istulosa 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 Alariw jistulose 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 Alariw, then there can be no question about any species at all 
either among Laminariacee or alge in general. I am perfectly sure however that Gost, 
if he were made better acquainted with A. fistulosa which 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. Gos1, 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 
lacune mucifere, 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 Lr Joris. At least he refers LZ. longicruris to that group of Laminariacee which 
is characterized by »canales muciferi in stipite nulli, sub epidermide autem frondis nu- 
merosi, parviy (Le Joris, 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 
Laminariacew, within the sublitoral zone on rocky and stony bottom. 
Geogr. Distrib. It is known with certainty to occur in Baflin Bay, going here far 
to the north. According to Asnmrap 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: 1 suppose the present species to be the alga 
reported under the name of L. saccharina at Port Kennedy and in Assistance Bay. 
Bafjin Bay: Cumberland Sound; the west coast of Greenland common (according 
to J. G. Ac. Grénl. Alg. p. 110); Godhayn, Melville Bay, Whale Sound, Cape Saumarez, 
Smith Sound north of Lat. N. 78°. 
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K. Vet. Akad. Handl. Bd 20. Ni:o 5. oJ 
