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278
Island. Nor does it grow along the coast of South America, where
the waler is perhaps too cold, for it does not belong to the cold-
temperate subantarctic flora. Its occurrence at Juan Fernandez
gives further evidence to my view that the Humboldt Current does
not atlain sufficient width to reach these islands.
In 1916—17 the species was again found by me in the same
localily but not seen in any other place. The Padre Bay is com-
paratively shellered and shows hard rocks suitable for algae along
the beach; here the richest litoral fauna and flora in the islands
is found. The difference between high and low water amounts to
4 feet. Splachnidium covers large boulders in the lower half of
the tidal region, but also grows on the steep rocks near the en-
trance. The swell is sometimes very considerable. Only in calm
weather is this region laid bare for some hours.
External appearance.
MITCHELL and WHITTING describe Splachnidium as consisting of
»from five to six branches or fronds which spring from a small
conical disc». In large tufts the disc is neither small nor conical
and carries fronds of a rather unlimited number: they are a little
thinner at their base; as the disc gets thicker with age they become
sunk into slight depressions. The plant is perennial, the disc ex-
panding by marginal growth. Young fronds spring from the mar-
ginal parts, but apparently also from between the older fronds.
The colour is an olive brown with a yellowish tinge; the living
plant does not show the greenish hue of MIiTCHELL’S figure.
The Juan Fernandez plant is comparatively small, rarely excee-
ding 8 or 10 cm. in length; I have not seen any so large as the
Cape plants, but there is not the slightest doubt that they belong
to the same species.
Anatomical structure and mode of growth.
The meristematic part is clearly visible; the tips of all the fronds
and branches are of a tender structure and of a light yellowish
brown colour. According to MITCHELL and WHITTING the chief
increase in growth takes place round the »apical cell». There is,
right enough, an apical meristem, where »apical cells» are found;
we can, however, leave them to be discussed later, as according
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