450 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XVIII, October 1964 
Nemalion elminthoides collected at Pacific 
Grove, California, is similar to the above two 
genera in that a rather dense knotlike gonimo- 
blast is produced wherein any filamentous na- 
ture is obscured. 
In Liagoropsis (16954 and cotype of L. max- 
ima Yamada) the gonimoblast filaments are 
loosely composed from the first and are clearly 
filamentous. This is another unique feature of 
Liagoropsis and was previously reported by De- 
sikachary (1957) and is verified here by us. 
The gonimoblast filaments of Liagoropsis first 
appear (Figs. 8-11) straight and closely erect 
(i.e., they tend to parallel the trichogyne). 
These primary gonimoblast filaments differen- 
tiate (Figs. 12-14) carpospores at their tips 
later. The secondary gonimoblast filaments ap- 
pear later as branches that are likewise erect 
and directed toward the exterior of the thallus. 
These secondary gonimoblast filaments arise 
from the nondifferentiated more basal cells of 
primary gonimoblast filaments and appear, when 
mature, as though they were sterile filaments 
surrounding and appressed to, or at least close 
to, the more matured primary filaments. 
In the lack of sterile filaments, in the lack of 
a closely packed knot of gonimoblast initials, 
and in the direct growth of the gonimoblast ini- 
tials toward the thallus surface, Liagoropsis is 
perhaps simpler than Liagora or Helmintho- 
cladia. In these two genera a knot of gonimo- 
blast initials may form before the later formed 
filaments protrude toward the surface, and also 
sterile filaments may be present. At least sterile 
filaments of some kind are also present in T ri- 
ch ogloea and Trichogloeopsis. In this respect 
Liagoropsis is most like Nemalion elminthoides , 
which usually lacks the sterile filaments but has, 
apparently, the knot of cells developing from 
the zygote. 
In surveying the genera of Helminthocladia- 
ceae, we have come to the conclusion that those 
with a low definite number of cells forming 
curved lateral carpogonial branches, with no 
vegetative cells between the hypogynous cells 
and the supporting cell, are more advanced than 
those which have larger and more variable 
numbers of cells forming straight carpogonial 
branches which often have one or more vegeta- 
tive cells between the hypogynous cells and the 
supporting cell. In the first category with lateral 
carpogonial branches which largely arise along 
the basal two-thirds of the supporting cell, are 
Helminth o cladia, Helminth or a, Liagora (in sen su 
nostro ) , Dermonema, and Cumagloia. In the 
second group, with terminal or lateral carpogo- 
nial branches, are Liagoropsis, Nemalion, Tri- 
chogloea, and Trichogloeopsis. 
Desikachary ( 1962 ) interpreted the carpo- 
gonial branches of Liagoropsis as consisting en- 
tirely of hypogynous cells and the carpogonium. 
As noted above, it appeared to us that in some 
cases (e.g., Figs. 6, 11) there were cells of nor- 
mal vegetative appearance at the base of the 
branch bearing the carpogonium, and in other 
cases (e.g., Figs. 7, 13, 18) none. We interpret 
this situation as evidence of primitive variabil- 
ity. Following our interpretation of the vegeta- 
tive nature of some of these cells, we would say 
there were not even any 'less well developed 
vegetative branches” arising from the carpo- 
gonial branches such as Desikachary (1957) 
shows in some of his illustrations. 
The diffuse gonimoblasts of the two genera 
Dermonema and Cumagloia set them apart 
from all other members of this family. 
Svedelius (1939), as a result of his study of 
Dermonema, thought Schmitz and Hauptfleisch s 
(1896) Dermonemeae, established for Dermo- 
nema, could well be treated as a separate family. 
Gardner (1917), as a result of his study of 
Cumagloia, thought they represented merely ex- 
tremes in a family, the members of which had 
gonimoblasts of varying degrees of compactness. 
Desikachary (1962), in making a close study 
of the point, found Dermonema to be without 
the fusions, the earlier reported presence of 
which has led others to feel the genus might 
not belong to the Helminthocladiaceae at all. 
Desikachary, however, feels as we do, that there 
is not enough known about the related genera 
to justify establishment of a family for these 
two, and possibly other, genera at this time. In- 
sofar as we know, no one has erected a familial 
taxon for this group. Should this be done it 
would appear, from the results of Desikachary s 
study, that this family should contain both Der- 
monema and Cumagloia. 
In Trichogloeopsis mucosissima (Abbott and 
Doty, I960) the carpogonial branches may oc- 
cur in groups, somewhat similar to the clusters 
of carpogonial branches in Liagoropsis (Figs. 
