22 



of the nest-like fertile verticils are twice divided, first into 5 to 3 segments, then into 

 3 segments, the central portion often again divided above its center, the others undi- 

 vided. The tips of the leaves are similar to gracilis, but gradually diminishing to 

 the point, which is very sharp; oogonia single, about the size of the oospores of 

 syncarpa, with fewest striae of all ; oospores black. 



" Herb. Martius. L. v. Schweinitz sent a specimen in 1829 by the name of Ch. 

 capitellata Ell., without locality. The small specimen is so similar to the one in 

 Richard's collection, showing the same lack of the lower portion, that I believe i* 

 came from the same locality. 



"The old specimens have been re examined, July, 1858. The terminal segments 

 90 to in in diam., mucro 100 to 120 long, 30 to 40 in diam. Entire oogonia 360 to 

 420 long, 270 to 300 broad, oospores 230 to 250 long, 190 to 200 broad, dark brown, 

 with sharp angles. The size of the oospores corresponds rather to N. gracilis than 

 to miicronata v. flabellata, but the oospores have fewer and sharper angles. The 

 Brazilian gracilis collected by Weddell corresponds perfectly as to the oospores. 



" A specimen from Texas, in Engelmann's herb., ' in clear springs and creeks 

 west of Brazos on Mill creek (?), Lindheimer, March, 1844,' is imperfect, but quite 

 similar." 



I have quoted thus at length from Braun-Nordstedt's " fragmenta " 

 that assistance may be given to the re-discovery of this interesting plant? 

 as well as to make the records of American Characeae as complete as 

 possible. 



The illustrations have been copied from the figures in the "frag- 

 menta." 



N. GRACILIS (Smith) Ag. 



Plant slender and elongated (not spreading and "bushy" like 

 mucronata). The stems are freely branched, 8 to 12 cm. long and 3 to 

 5 mm. thick. The verticils consist of 5 or 6 leaves, which diverge from 

 the stem, thus differing widely from transilis and tennissima in appear- 

 ance. The first segment of a leaf is about two-thirds the entire length of 

 the whole leaf, 200 to 250 in diam.; it stands almost at right angles from 

 the stem in the lower verticils ; first node divides into 4 to 5 secondary 

 divisions, which are half the length of the first, 170 to 200 in diam.; 

 the second node (fertile) bears four tertiary divisions (terminals) short- 

 est of all, 100 to 140 in diam.; these are more frequently three-celled ^ 

 the lowest cell being usually about two-thirds the length of the entire 

 segment. These terminals sometimes are again divided, the extra nodes 

 bearing four long terminals. The terminal cell (mucro) is at base 

 about two-thirds the diameter of the preceding cell at its end next the 

 mucro, 25 in diam., 25 to 40 long. The penultimate cell seems to taper 

 from its base to the base of the mucro. 



Antheridia 220 to 250 in diameter. Oogonia isolated, at every node 

 of the leaf ; ocspore 220 to 275 long, 200 to 250 broad, with 6 to 7 



