mostly original, but Figures i to 5 and 9-17 are copied from de 

 Bary; Figures 6 and 7 from Nordstedt, 18 to 20 and 38 and 39 from 

 Sachs and Goebel. 



CHARACE^: are neglected by botanists in general, who seem to have 

 an aversion to all aquatic plants ; mainly, it is presumed, from the 

 fact that the collection of aquatics is a specialty. One must go pre- 

 pared with dredge and rake, with paper and muslin, in order to 

 gather successfully plants of this sort. It has come about that very 

 few bits of Characeae have been gathered here and there by expedi- 

 tions and by individuals, in America, up to recent years; but it is evi- 

 dent that these plants abound in our waters, and that our Chara-flora 

 is varied and strongly characterized. Probably not one-half of the 

 American species have as yet been brought to light, but it is confi- 

 dently anticipated that a better knowledge of their structure and 

 classification will result in a more widespread interest in them. 



These plants, often delicate or brittle from an incrustation of lime, 

 are easily destroyed by waves, so that they are rarely found on ex- 

 posed shores, unless in water deep enough to be beyond the reach of 

 the surface movements. They flourish best in sheltered bays and 

 smaller ponds, especially if a tolerably uniform level of water be 

 maintained. Great changes of level are destructive, alike to species 

 that love the sun and grow in shallower water and those that hide 

 away in the depths. It is rare, therefore, that Chara hunting is profit- 

 able in ponds or lakes which feed canals or factories ; one prefers the 

 land-locked sheets of water fed by springs, especially if there be a 

 sandy bottom. Temperature has but little influence upon them, 

 though the South has its distinctive species, as well as the North. 

 One species, at least, Ch. fragilis, is universal ; found in every coun- 

 try and clime, in ice water at the North and in the hot springs of 

 the Yellowstone, " hot enough to cook an egg in four minutes " (see 

 specimens in the Herbarium of Harvard College). 



The best condition of the plant for examination is when it has 

 mature fruit. The time at which this occurs is usually late summer 

 or early fall, though a few species mature early in the spring and die 

 off in the summer. At the South the species are often in good condi- 

 tion the year round, the old fruit holding on even after new shoots 

 have started from the old nodes. 



To gather Characeae successfully a dredge must be used; for shal- 

 low water a small fine-toothed rake is preferred, but for deeper water 



