27 



This minute ~Nitella was collected in Green Pond, New Jersey, in 

 1883, and distributed in my American exsiccatae as No. 34. Its only 

 near relative is N. batrachosperma A. B., of Europe, from which it is 

 easily distinguished by many differences. A form of this species (which 

 I had considered to be the true batrachosperma) was collected in Nan- 

 tucket, Mass., by the late Dr. Morong. It is, however, essentially dif- 

 ferent from that species, and perhaps also from this ; for the present, 

 and until mature spores can be found and examined, I must consider it 

 a form of minuta; it differs, however, in the greater size of the stems 

 and leaves and the apparent partial inflation of the latter ; its oospores 

 are also much smaller. Its stems are 220 in diam.; leaves, first seg- 

 ment 150 in diam., 340 long; second segment 102 in diam., 340 long] 

 terminals two to four in number, 122 in diam., 850 to 1000 long ; mucro 

 34 in diam. at base, 122 long. Oogonia single at each of the two nodes 

 of the leaf, 156 long, 136 broad. Thus it will be seen that the plant 

 itself is larger, while the oospores are much smaller.* 



The membrane of the oospore of minuta is marked by " elongated 

 granules," Nordstedt. If the illumination be not of the best an erro- 

 neous impression of the markings is obtained. It is a somewhat diffi- 

 cult object to determine clearly. Irregular, oval or elongated elevations 

 are intended to be indicated by the etching (Fig. 5). 



NlTELLA INTERMEDIA Ndst.f 



" Eunitella, diarthrodactyla, homoeophylla, mo/wica, gloeocarpa. 

 Folia triplicato-divisa, verticilli conformes, laxi. Nucleus sporangii 

 ater 0.36 mm. longus. Diam. antheridii 0.24 mm." 



Diffuse, about 100 mm. high. Verticils loose, like N. gracilis, the 

 younger enveloped in mucus, and consisting of 6 to 8 leaves, the lower 

 leaves as long as 35 mm., the upper 15 to 20 mm., twice or in some 

 rays thrice divided, rays of the first division 5 to 7, of the second 4(1 

 to 5), of the third 3 (i to 4) ; terminal segments (of the third division 

 bicellular; of the second sometimes, but rarely tri-cellular) terminating, 

 without being sensibly attenuated, in a narrow and elongated mucro. 

 Sporangia, in every division of the leaf, solitary with a short coronula ; 

 nucleus broadly oval, blackish, with 8 striae not very prominent, the 

 colored membrane densely granulo-punctate. Stem 300 diam.; leaf 



* February, 1896. A new examination convinces me that the Nantucket speci- 

 mens are quite distinct both from batrachosperma and from minuta ; lack of good 

 material, however, prevents my describing a new species, for which the name 

 Maxceana would be selected as indicating the locality. 



f This description is mainly taken from Norstedt's original in his " De Algis et 

 Characeis," Lund, 1889. 



