Several collections of Chara showed characteristics in agreement 

 with both C. Bratinii and C. Schweinitzii. As Robinson (1906) has 

 pointed out, most of these forms are best assigned to the latter 

 species. C. Braunii is less common than C. Schwenitzii. Our plants 

 are typical of the fonner. 



In shallow water of a small lake. Wis. 



Chara canescens Loiseleur-Deslongchamps 1810, p. 139 



PI. 81, Figs. 2-6 



Plants rather coarse but bright green and only moderately rigid 

 inasmuch as they are but very little encrusted with lime; 6-15 cm. 

 high; stems bearing a double whorl of stipulodes and 8-10 leaves 

 at each node, the upper series of stipulodes longer than the lower; 

 cortications of the internodes haplostichous, the node cells of the 

 cortical series bearing 3 spines; terminal cell of the leaves uncortioat- 

 ed, spine-like, sometimes surrounded by several cells from the last 

 node which are equal to the terminal cell in length, or nearly so, 

 giving a forked appearance to the leaf tip; sex organs dioecious; 

 oogonia subtended by 6 bracts, those adjacent to the oogonium 

 shorter than the others; cortical cells of the oogonium showing 

 13-15 turns; oogonium 0.7-0.8 mm. long. 



The branchlets (leaves) in this species are relatively short, with 

 5-8 joints, and are incurved at the tips. Examination of herbarium 

 material in the University of Minnesota, University of California, 

 and the Chicago Natural History Museum shows that there is a 

 great deal of variation among specimens bearing the label of C. 

 canescens. 



In ponds of semi-hard water. Mich., Wis. 



Chara contraria A. Braun ex Kuetzing 1845, p. 258 



Plants usually coarse and stiff; stems bearing 7-8 leaves and a 

 double row of short, blunt stipulodes which frequently are decid- 

 uous, leaving only scars; cortication of the internode diplostichous, 

 the primary cells more prominent, the secondary laterals irregular; 

 spine cells short, deciduous in the lower parts of the stem; terminal 

 cells of the stem and branchlets ecorticate, the apical cell short 

 and spine-like; monoecious, both organs produced at the same node; 

 oogonia subtended by 3 bracts which may be slightly shorter than 

 the oogonium or as much as 7 times longer, the posterior bracts 

 short and often papilliform; oospores 0.48-0.74 mm. long, with 9-14 

 ridges, brown in color; antheridia globose, up to 0.58 mm. in 

 diameter. 



Walnut Lake, Michigan. 



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