ON TUR L A M IN A III ACEA E OF HOKKAIDO 
9 
in width, whereas in “Hosome” 1-2 m in length and up to 3-4 cm 
in width. Sporangial sori quite irregular in shape and position, 
beginning to appear in August, at first as scattered patches near 
the base of the blade, later they become confluent with each other, 
covering nearly the entire surface of the lower part of the blade, 
extending gradually upwards as scattered patches mainly on the 
median fascia; formed either on both surfaces or on one surface 
of the blade, in the latter case more frequently on the upper 
surface, 1 "-’ covering, in matured fronds, the blade surface within 
a region corresponding to 3/4 of the overall length of the blade or 
sometimes to the very apex. 
Mucilage canals arranged in a row, or rarely in two rows, in 
both stipe and blade ; medulla of the blade thin, with a similar 
structure to that in L. japonica) superficial cells and several under- 
lying outer cortical cells containing very abundant chromatophores. 
Habitat. Growing in water about 2 to 5, rarely 7 to 8 fathoms 
in depth. Distributed along the Japan Sea coast of Hokkaido from 
Atsuta, Ishikari Province, northeastwards, by way of Yagishiri 
Island, Teuri Island, Rishiri Island and Rebun Island, along the 
Ochotsk Sea coast from Kitami Province through Menashi Gun, 
Nemuro Province, as far as the western coast of Kunashiri Island, 
where the distal end of a warm current is mingled with a cold 
current. Of these localities, Teshio Province is known to produce 
plants of superior quality and its coast north of Onishika is called 
“Homba” or the best place for this Laminaria. The plants from 
Rishiri and Rebun are of a broad blade, black in color. They are 
somewhat inferior in quality, but are produced abundantly for the 
markets. Along the coast of Kitami Province, the harvest of this 
Laminaria shows a tendency of increase in amount year after year 
in accordance with the increase of population. A species of 
Laminaria, which is collected along the western coast of Saghalien 
Island and exported to the northern districts of China, is considered 
from its description to be identical with L. ochotensis . 1]) 
Use. The present species can be used almost in the same way 
as Laminaria japonica. The plants produced in Teshio Province are 
most rich in sugar content and good for giving flavor to food. 
Addenda. The so-called “Hosome-kombu” growing in company 
10) See foot-note no. 6 on page 5. 
11) Miyabe in Okamura, 1936, p. 285; Tokida, 1954, p. 118. 
