PHYLLOSPADIX AS A BEACH-BUILDER. 
RALPH ERWIN GIBBS. 
In December, 1898, while overhauling a heap of seaweeds 
recently collected by Prof. W. A. Setchell and myself at 
Bodega Bay, California, I discovered, clinging to a branch 
of Amphiroa, a small brown object which bore, at first sight, 
a rude resemblance to a beetle's head with rigid, bristle-fringed 
antenne. On examination, however, it was evident that this 
nondescript, clasping the Amphiroa in such a way that the 
reflexed bristles, or “barbs,” of its arms resisted attempts 
to detach it, was the seed or fruit of some flowering plant. 
Further, it was obvious that this contrivance of arms and 
bristles was a unique and most interesting example of dis- 
semination mechanism. 
As there are extensive beds of eelgrass (Phyllospadix) 
growing in shallow water along the rocky shores of Bodega 
Bay, the possibility suggested itself that this was the ripe 
fruit of Phyllospadix, and upon comparison with the figures 
of Ruprecht and others it seemed that such was the case, — 
although our find was, in some respects, very different from 
what Ruprecht supposed to be the “ripe fruit.” ? 
A few weeks later, at Monterey Bay, the matter was put 
beyond doubt, and given new complexity and interest, when 
we collected not only an abundance of the fruits, but also 
young plants in several stages of development. Following up 
these discoveries, and with the help of Professor Setchell and 
Dr. W. L. Jepson, I made an investigation, the results of 
which are here set forth. These results, to anticipate a sum- 
mary, are, first, some data as to the life history of Phyllospadix, 
and, second, some speculation as to the significance of the 
plant from a geological point of view. 
1 Thesis for the degree of M.S., University of California, May, 1900. _ 
Stillen Oceans. 
es F. J Neue... Pflanzen aus dem... 1852. 
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