THE MARINE ALGAE OF THE SOUTHWESTERN PENINSULA OF HISPANIOLA

Abstract

It is curious that there should be very little information available about the marine algal flora of two of the largest of the West Indian islands: Cuba and Hispaniola. The observations by Montagne on Cuban algae are now relatively uninformative, but fortunately are amplified by Howe (I9I8). For a long time Hispaniola remained practically unknown except for a very few reports of individual species. Recently a small collection from the associated Beata Island gave Bqrgesen (I924) opportunity to list a few species. While the value of a thorough study of the probably varied coast line of the larger island of Cuba would be most important, Hispaniola is probably little inferior in varied extensiveness. It is notable that almost all the thorough studies of West Indian algae have concerned themselves with small islands, or groups of small islands: the Bermudas, Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, and Barbados. Consequently the problems which are now most promising of interest in the West Indian region are, in the first place, adequate studies of the floras of the large islands; secondly, studies of the southeasternmost extension of the Antilles and the neighboring Venezuelan mainland so that we can trace the northward extension of the southern flora; and finally, studies of the western shores of the Gulf of Mexico. To the first of these enterprises the present paper pretends to no comprehensive contribution, but is rather a pioneer study of an area somewhat inconvenient of access for prolonged investigation. It is based upon collections and detailed field notes made by one of us (C. H. A.) between 1925 and I929 as opportunity offered, while ordinarily engaged in entirely unr,elated botanical work. The other collaborator (W. R. T.) advised respectinig the field work, made or verified the species determinattions reported, and assumes responsibility for organizing this joint report. For opportunity to consult specimens in the New York Botanical Garden herbarium, and for most helpful advice respecting the identity of certain species, the writers are indebted to Dr. Marshall A. Howe. The subject of the present paper is the flora of the southwestern peninsula of Hispaniola, the westward extension of the Haitian territory. This republic includes also the western portion of the broader part of the island, but the major portion of the broad part comes within the territory of Santo Domingo. Few of the earlier records of Hispaniola algae have come from within Haitian territory, and Beata Id. belongs to Santo Domingo. The