ROY. M. WHELDEN
Casual observation of collections of freshwater algae
from the numerous waters of Maine reveals an algal flora of surprising
richness; more careful attention shows it to be well worth intensive study to
which the following notes may be considered only as an introduction.
The collections on which these notes are based have
been selected from several hundreds of vials of algal material gathered in
every month of the year through seventeen years. Beyond the statement that no
collection noted here was made from any large body of water, either lake or river,
no description can be made to include the many habitats from which collections
were made. One might stress the fact that several separate collections were
made from what appeared to be the least promising places, such as a shallow
rain pool formed in a foot-path.Despite
what seemed to be a sterile habitat, a sample nevertheless was taken and later
found to contain an abundance of Closterium macilentum, a large
percentage of which was in some stage of conjugation. This and other habitats
to be mentioned subsequently seem to justify the statement that no place should
be passed by too carelessly, since surprising discoveries may be completely
missed by such lack of attention.
