THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE ELK KELP (PELAGOPHYCUS SPECIES)

Abstract

A comparative anatomical study of two species of Pelagophycus has revealed specific differences in the nuclear volumes of meristoderm cells, morphology and branching of mucilage ducts, and medulla construction in the solid stipes. Pelagophycus spp. have nucleate sieve elements in all organs except the holdfast. Mucilage ducts and multinucleate cortical cells occur throughout the thallus. These and other features demonstrate that Pelagophycus is closely related to and probably phyletically intermediate between Macrocystis and Nereocystis.