Life-History of Splachnidium rugosum

Abstract

THE peculiar brown alga, Splachnidium rugosum, has been a subject for investigation on a number of occasions. Early workers considered that it should be classed with either the Laminariales or the Fucales. In 1920, Skottsberg¹ pointed, out that the resemblances to those orders were more apparent than real and that its proper position should be near to the Chordariaceæ. Skottsberg went on to suggest that there should be a sexual generation, as he considered the commonly known plant to be asexual, reproducing by zoospores from sporangia borne in the conceptacles.