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REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 141
owing to the great variation in shape. The suborder approaches very closely to the Ceramieæ, since the
cystocarps are in many of the species true favellæ, which, instead of being naked, are concealed in the
fronds. It is in fact merely an arbitrary matter whether one places Gloiosiphonia in one suborder or the
other. The fronds are more complicated than those of the Ceramieæ. In genera like Gloiosiphonia and
Nemastoma there is an axis formed respectively of a monosiphonous filament or bundle of filaments,
and an ill-defined cortex formed simply of the loosely united lateral filaments. In other genera, as in
Halymenia, the cortex is more distinctly marked, and in Prionitis and Cryptonemia the frond is dense
and coriaceous.
GLOIOSIPHONIA, Carm.
(From γλοιος [gloios], sticky, and σιφων [siphon], a tube.)
Fronds monœcious, gelatinous, cylindrical, branching, solid above, and formed of a
monosiphonous axis, whose cells in their central portion bear whorls of four
secondary branches, which divide so as to form umbels, which collectively form the
cortex; descending filaments formed from the lower part of secondary branches;
lower portion of fronds hollow; tetraspores cruciate, borne at the summit of the
cortical filaments; antheridia forming spots on the surface of the fronds; cystocarps
borne on the lower part of the cortical filaments, consisting of tufts of branching,
radiating filaments densely packed in a single mass and surrounded by jelly.
A genus containing but a single certainly known species, found both in Europe and this country. The
genus has been placed by some writers in the Cryptonemieæ and by others in the Ceramieæ. It in fact
connects the two suborders, the fruit being a favella in which the spores all arrive at maturity at the
same time, forming, in the terminology of some algologists, a simple nucleus. The ripe cystocarps are
concealed in the frond, as in the Cryptonemieæ, but, on the other hand, the structure of the so-called
cortical layer is like the outer portion of Dudresnaya, which is generally placed in the Ceramieæ. A
detailed account of the development of the cystocarp in G. capillaris will be found in Notes
Algologiques, p. 41.
G. CAPILLARIS, Carm. (G. capillaris, Carm., Phyc. Brit., Pl. 57; Notes Algologiques,
Pl. 13.)
Fronds gelatinous, four inches to a foot long, solid above, hollow below, main
branches subsimple, terete, naked below, densely beset above with decompound
lateral branches, branchlets tapering at both extremities; cystocarps abundant,
frequently forming nodosities.
In pools below low-water mark.
New London, Harvey; Nahant, W. G, F.; Chelsea, Miss Brewer; Gloucester, Mrs.
Bray and Mrs. Davis; Hampton Beach, Dr. Durkee; Peak’s Island, Maine, Prof.
Goode.
A widely diffused but locally rare species, found in early summer and disappearing in August. It is
easily recognized at sight by its delicate gelatinous substance and brilliant rose color and by the
tapering branchlets. Cystocarpic specimens are not unfrequently found, but tetrasporic plants are rare
and have never been observed in this country. The species shrinks very much in drying and adheres
closely to paper.