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474 University of California Publications in Botany [Vol. 8
11. Gametangia cylindrical or very slightly tapering 12
11. Gametangia decidedly fusiform 13
12. Gametangia mostly on 1-2-celled pedicels 1. C. myrionematoides (p. 474)
12. Pedicels of gametangia very variable in height .3. C. nummuloides (p. 475)
13. Gametangia 24-30/u long, 6-8ju broad 18. C. immixtum (p. 487)
13. Gametangia 45-65^ long, 15-1Sm broad 9. C. coniferum fp. 479)
13. Gametangia 50-75m long, 8-11/x broad 8. C. dubium (p. 479)
13. Gametangia 60-130^ long, 18-28/* broad 10. C. serpens (p. 480)
14. Erect filaments in part piliferous 16. C. speciosum f. piliferum (p. 485)
14. Erect filaments not piliferous 15
15. Terminal gametangia up to 400^ long 14. C. secundum fp. 483)
15. Terminal gametangia up to 110/x long 15. C. secundum f. terminale (p. 484)
1. Compsonema myrionematoides S. and G.
Fronds forming small, circular to irregular cushions, 1-2.5 mm.
diam., prostrate portion strictly monostromatic, composed of closely
crowded, contorted, radiating filaments ; erect filaments unbranched,
cylindrical, 110-130/*. long; true hairs absent; cells of creeping fila-
ments cylindrical to irregular in form ; cells of erect filaments cylin-
drical, 7.5-8.5//, diam., 1-2 times as long, terminal often several times
as long ; chromatophore a slightly broken band in each cell ; zoo-
sporangia (?) broadly clavate, sessile or on short pedicels on the
creeping filaments, 35-50/x. long, 20-28/*, broad ;
gametangia numerous,
cylindrical to fusiform, sessile or on short pedicels on the creeping
filaments, 50-7 0/x (up to 100/*) long, 9-12/*. broad.
Growing on the stipe of Nereocystis Luetkeana. Pacific Grove,
California.
Setchell and Gardner, Phyc. Cont. Ill, 1922, p. 361, pi. 36. fig. 1.
There is but little choice as to the generic position of this small
alga. It forms small brown tufts or cushions of loose filaments. Very
frequently the gametangia are wider in the middle than at the ends
and have decidedly biseriate loculi. Because of the more or less loose
tufted character of the erect filaments and the partially biseriate
gametangia we have placed it with the genus Compsonema.
2. Compsonema sessile S. and G.
Fronds forming inconspicuous cushions up to 1.5 mm. diam., cir-
cular to irregular in outline ; creeping filaments contorted, closely
crowded, adhering firmly to the host, without rhizoids ;
erect filaments
sparse, 20-24/*. high; true hairs absent; cells of creeping filaments
irregular in shape and size, 9-12/* diam. ; chromatophores band-shaped,
one in each cell ; zoosporangia unknown ; gametangia numerous, sessile