162 
Remarks on Chara gymnopus A. Br., with Descriptions of new 
Species of Chara and Nitella. 
By T. F.. ALLEN. 
[PLATES 185-192.] 
The species. Chara gymnopus A. Br., was proposed in manu- 
script, by the late Al. Braun, and fully described in his Characee 
of Africa in 1847. Remarking upon the name in the latter work, 
Braun says: “So long as but few forms were known to me, it 
seemed easy to separate them into a series of related species, but 
since 16 to 18 forms have come to my notice I am doubtful | 
whether it would not be more correct to collect them all except 
the dicecious Ch. Martiana and the disjoined moncecious CH. sé 
Juncta, as varieties under one species, for which the name sy” 
nopus, though not the oldest, seems most appropriate ;” also in a 
foot-note to this paragraph. “A part of the forms belonging here 
have formerly been described by me under the name Cz. polyphylla, 
1858.” The oldest name is Ch. Ceylonica Klein and Willd., but im 
accordance with the observations above, this name must be used to 
designate the most distinguished East Indian species. 
It seems to me unnecessary to make any changes in this name, 
to accord with the universally recognized rules of priority, for the 
species must in my view be abandoned entirely, and the seve : 
varieties be raised to the rank of species, with their appropriate a 
names. Many species, hitherto called varieties, abound in : 
America, and pe opportunity is afforded for contingary obser- 
vation. \ 
It is, to me, quite evident that these so-called varieties are ally 
distinct as species, not subject to any greater variability than other 
species of the genus, indeed their characters are wonderfully com” 
stant in identical localities, and furthermore the name gymnopus ee 
required to designate a sub-section of the “ triplostiche corticate, as 
division of Chara, namely : 
GyMNoPop& ; stem and leaves triply corticated ; the lowest see s 
of the lates naked. Under this section I am able to place ' 
following new gate giving a later revision of a nate 
