450 
bearing such narrow sporophylls occur on exposed coasts; in more 
sheltered localities the sporophylls get broader and the same often 
applies also to the lamina. These specimens thus constitute a 
transition to the broader f. pinnata. 
This species occurs gregariously in enormous masses from 
about low-water mark to several fathoms below it, but in particu¬ 
larly exposed places it can grow somewhat above low-water mark, 
and in narrow rock-clefts washed constantly by the sea it may be 
found up to 1—2 metres above sea-level at low tide. It grows by 
preference along open sea-shores, but may also occur in the interior 
of fjords in more sheltered localities, and is most commonly met 
with on steeply sloping or quite perpendicular rock-faces and in 
fact on rocks in general. Fructifying specimens were found in 
May, June, July and November. This alga undoubtedly attains to 
its highest development in spring and early summer. 
With regard to its change of leaves Wille writes in »Beitrage 
zur physiologischen Anatomie der Laminariaceen«, Christiania, 1897, 
p. 7: — »dieses Endblatt fallt jeden Herbst ab und wachst von 
neuen heraus im Laufe des Winters«, but I do not think that this 
is always so, as at any rate along the Faeroes I never came across 
specimens which showed the slightest indication of a regular change 
of leaves as is the case, e. g. in most of the Laminaria- species. 
My own observations lead me to think that the leaf keeps on 
growing at its base during the greater part of the year, while the 
apex is continually so to speak worn away by the force of the 
waves. All the specimens I have seen had leaves which were al¬ 
ways fresh at the base, while towards the apex they gradually 
become older and more and more tattered and the segments were 
gradually torn away so that the midrib only was left and when 
examined more closely the latter also proved to be scratched and 
worn at the apex (cfr. fig. 84). It is true that I have only seen 
specimens from April to August and October to December and it 
is very probable that the leaf grows more rapidly at certain seasons, 
but I feel convinced that a regular change of leaves does not take 
place. I think Wille’s observation (based on the material from 
Mandal gathered in August) must doubtless be regarded as a result 
of the warm season which is less favourable to this species at so 
southerly a habitat. 1 
1 In connection with this I would call attention to the fact that in the mu¬ 
seum in Copenhagen we have some specimens gathered by Dr. Rosenvinge near 
