The geographic origin of the plants most commonly used for medicine by Hawaiians.

Twelve common Polynesian plants, 8 of which were probably brought in the canoe voyages perhaps 1500 years ago from southern and central Polynesia, constitute the most commonly used plants by Hawaiians for medicinal purposes. Herbal treatments of the most frequently encountered illnesses or physical conditions--purge or constipation, skin affections, respiratory affections, indigestion, fever, bruises and sprains--were tallied from all available sources. The herbs most frequently used are common species, grown around habitations and in adjoining agricultural fields. The hypothesis is advanced that while the Hawaiian Islands contain one of the world's largest percentages of endemic species in the flora, only a few of these species were used for illnesses, though many endemic species were used for building, tapa making, and the foundation of the elaborate and renowned feather cloaks. Owing to approximately 1200 years of geographic isolation, the Hawaiians probably did not find it necessary to exploit the native flora for more than a token number of species for their relatively mild illnesses.

Evaluation of kappa carrageenan as a substitute for agar in microbiological media.

Seventy-one samples of the colloid kappa-carrageenan extracted from 12 seaweed species were subjected to a number of standard physical demands of solid bacteriological culture media. All samples had a lower melting temperature (less than 67 degrees C) than agar and a gelling (setting) temperature between l6 degrees C and 51 degrees C, some the same and others lower or higher than agar. Temperature spreads were narrow (ca 10 degrees C) to broad (ca 30 degrees C), depending on the seaweed source, but none were as broad as that of agar (ca 40 degrees C). The majority of commercially prepared samples held a slant when incubated at 37 degrees C, but California seaweed colloids were best at 28 degrees C in this test. The majority of samples released little to no water of syneresis in slant tests as well as in plates. Some plates prepared with the colloid were crystal clear as compared to agar plates. All test microorganisms grew as well on kappa-carrageenan media s on agar media. Some media responses could be attributable to the seaweed species, but others could be traced to chemical extraction methods and modification of the colloid.

STRUCTURE AND REPRODUCTION OF NEOARDISSONEA KYLIN (RHODOPHYTA-NACCARIACEAE)(1).

Neoardissonea naccarioides (J. Ag.) Kylin, the type and only species of its genus, is shown to be referable to Naccaria Endlicher, to which genus it is transferred as Naccaria naccarioides (J. Ag.) comb. nov.

STUDIES IN SOME FOLIOSE RED ALGAE OF THE PACIFIC COAST. III. DUMONTIACEAE, WEEKSIACEAE, KALLYMENIACEAE(1).

The female reproductive structures and their development, and the vegetative structure are studied in 17 species of red algae in the Cryptonemiales (Rhodophyceae). Three genera, Weeksia, Constantinea, and the type species of Leptocladia, are removed from the Dumontiaceae to a newly created family, the Weeksiaceae, because of differing postfertilization events leading to the development of the gonimoblast from a cell of the carpogonial branch. Three genera of Dumontiaceae are studied: Pikea, including P. californica, the type species, and Pikea robusta a newly described species; Dilsea californica, and a newly described species of Neodilsea, a genus heretofore known only from the northwestern Pacific. Two transfers are made from the genus Leptocladia, 1 to Farlowia, as F. conferta, and 1 to Rhodophyllis (Gigartinales) as R. peruviana. Three species in the Kallymeniaceae are redescribed: Kallymenia pacifica, a rare and nearly unknown species from southern California and adjacent Pacific Mexico; K. norrisii from central California; and K. oblongifructa from Washington, Oregon, and northern California.

STUDIES IN SOME FOLIOSE RED ALGAE OF THE PACIFIC COAST. I. CRYPTONEMIACEXE(1).

Pacific coast species of the red algae Halymenia and Cryptonemia are described Of the 8 previously reported species of Halymenia 3 (H. abyssicola Dawson, H. megaspore Dawson, H refugiensis Dawson) hive been placed in synonymy with other species. Halymenia hollenbergii from southern California is described as new; H cocinea is transferred from Schizymenia (and includes Aeodes gardneri Kylin) and H. templetonii is a transfer from Weeksia. Five species of Cryptonemia are described; one of them, C. taylorii from the Revillagigedo Archipelago, as new. Wider distribution ranges are given for the remaining species, C. ovalifolia, C. obovata, C. bore alis and C. angustata. Keys to genera of the west coast Cryptonemiaceae and to the species of Halymenia and Crypronemia are provided.

OBSERVATIONS ON LIAGOROPHILA ENDOPHYTICA, A RARE SPECIES IN THE ACROCHAETIACEAE (RHODOPHYCEAE)(1).

Liagorophila, a monotypic genus in the Acrochaetiaceae (Nemalionales) from the zuestern Pacific, is redescribed, particularly with reference to its sexual reproductive structures. The fertilized carpogonium shows a longitudinal first division; the spermatangia may be borne directly on a normal vegetative cell. Monosporangia are not known. For these reasons, and although vegetatively resembling some species of Acrochaetium, the genus should be recognized as distinct from other genera of Acrochaetiaceae.