The green alga Botryococcus braunii (Kiitzing) is found throughout the world under a wide range of climatic conditi0ns. l The unusual morphology and composition of this organism has been investigated and its involvement in the formation of a variety of carboniferous deposits, including petroleum, has been postulated. 2 Of particular chemical interest is the finding that B. braunii produces a mixture of c30436 hydrocarbons of terpenoid origin that ...