CHAPTER XVI 
PHAEOPHYCEAE. BROWN ALGAE 
The Phaeophyceae, or brown algae, are almost exclusively 
marine. They include a great variety of forms, ranging from delicate 
filaments to coarse, leathery plants 100 feet in length. There 
are no unicellular members. 
For fixing marine algae, fixing agents should be made up with 
sea-water, never with fresh water, and the washing should be done 
with sea-water; but fresh water should be used in making the series of 
alcohols. When the Venetian turpentine method is to be used, wash 
in fresh water before placing in the 10 per cent glycerin.^ 
For habit work, material may be put into formalin—about 6 c.c. 
commercial formalin to 100 c.c. of sea-water—and kept there indefi¬ 
nitely. If it is desired to transport large quantities of coarse forms, 
the material may remain in this solution for a week and may then be 
removed from the liquid and packed in closed pails or tubs or any 
water-tight containers. After reaching its destination, the material 
should be put into formalin again. 
For material to be mounted by the Venetian turpentine method, 
6 to 10 per cent formalin (always in sea-water) is a good fixing agent. 
Wash in sea-water for 1 hour, then in equal parts sea-water and fresh 
water for J hour, then in fresh water | hour. The material is now 
ready for staining in aqueous stains, or for the 10 per cent glycerin, 
if alcoholic stains are to be used. 
The following formula by Flemming will also give good results, 
both for the Venetian turpentine method and for the paraffin method: 
Chromic acid . 1 g. 
Glacial acetic acid. 0.4 c.c. 
Sea-water. 400 c.c. 
Fix 24 to 48 hours and wash 24 hours in running sea-water. A 
convenient washing-box can be made from an ordinary washtub. 
Bore a dozen f-inch holes in the bottom; insert rubber tubes 
6 inches long, and in the end of each tube place the glass part of a 
pipette. The tub may be elevated by nailing three narrow boards 
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