300 Allen : Three new Charas from California 



The leaves are not corticated, but their nodes are provided with 

 whorls of bracts, similar in shape to the spines and stipules. The 

 leaf terminates in a single cell which much exceeds the length of 

 the bracts of the ultimate node. The male and female fruit are 

 born on separate plants ; the male plants are usually larger, espe- 

 cially more elongated and diffusely branched ; the female shorter 

 and usually found in quite shallow water. The foliae, bearing an- 

 theridia, have nodes bearing 6 verticillate bracts without an anther- 

 idium : but on a node bearing an antheridum will be found 5 nodal 

 cells bearing bracts ; while the antheridium clearly occupies a 

 nodal cell, replacing a bract. In the spore-bearing leaves, how- 

 ever, one finds a normal number of bracts and also a sub-sporal 

 bract, developed (often imperfectly) from a cell, which would in a 

 normally developed, monoecious chara bear an antheridium. This 

 pre-bracteole or sub-sporal bract is frequently developed no farther 

 than a swollen cell or a minutely protruding elongation, but all 

 degrees of development may be noticed, as shown in the engrav- 

 ing ; even to a pre-bracteole quite as long as the entire sporo- 

 phydium. The antheridium is 710 to 720// in diameter. The 

 oospore is black, about 700 [x long (650-780) and 400 fx broad 

 with 7 prominent but not acute ridges. The coronula of the sporo- 

 phydium is rounded in outline and consists of 5 connivent cells. 



The type of the species, Chara Hornemanni Wallm., is also 

 tropical or sub-tropical in habitat ; it was first collected near 

 Caracas, South America, and is known from the West Indian 

 islands, Florida (Key West), Texas (collected by Wright), Lower 

 California (San Ramon), collected by Mrs. Brandegee, etc. It is 

 distinguished by its broader and more inflated bracts, stipules and 

 spines ; its cortex-tubes are much more regular and evenly devel- 

 oped but well rounded out, Diplosticha ; the spines of the stem are 

 rather inflated than cylindrical, 4-5 mm. long, 400-500 fx in 

 diameter, abruptly pointed, often paired, one longer by one shorter. 

 The stipules and bracts similar in appearance to the spines. In 

 this species the development of a pre-bracteole cell is also noted. 

 The oospore is reported by Braun as dark-brozvn with 10 striae, 

 coronula blunt with connivent cells. A Mexican form is also 

 noted with 8 leaves, 12 stipules and 4 nodes. Antheridium 1000 

 -1200 fi in diameter; oospore 800 /x long, 450-480 (x broad. 



