The life history of Desmarestia tabacoides Okamura has been studied in culture. Unilocular sporangia lie embedded in the superficial layer of the cortex. The zoospores develop into minute filamentous thalli (gametophytes) which are monoecious. The formation of both oogonia and antheridia is induced under the culture conditions of comparatively lower temperature and shorter photoperiod. The fertilized eggs germinate inside the oogonia to form monosiphonous filaments which develop into pseudoparenchymatous Desmarestia plants (sporophytes). The sporophytes grow well at 10-18° in a 10-14-hr photoperiod and bear unilocular sporangia at 14-22° in a 10-14-hr photoperiod.