CHARA. 97 



Chara vulgaris, E. B. 336. 2d edit. 1471; Smith, i. 6.; 

 Hook. Crypt., Part 1. p. 246.; Macreight, 278.; Agardh, 

 Syst. Alg. p. 128. 



This is the commonest species of the whole genus : it is 

 met with in ponds, ditches, and slow streams, and is usually 

 of a yellowish green hue. The stems are sometimes seven 

 or eisiht inches lono;. Whorls about as lono; as the articula- 

 tions of the stem, the upper ones alone being fertile. This 

 Chara, from its great abundance, has most frequently been 

 the subject of microscopic observation, and amply has it re- 

 warded the labours of investigators. 



2. Chara Hedwigii. 



Char. Stem smooth, striated, opaque, somewhat brittle, elon- 

 gated. Branches of the whorls subulate ; fertile ones with 

 many whorls of short ramuli or bractece, of which the 

 longest are shorter than the fruit. Nucule ovate. 



Chara Hedwigii, E. B. Suppl. t. 2762. 2d edit. 1472, in 

 part; Hook. Crypt., Part 1. p. 246.; Macreight, 278. 



" Met with forming dense patches at the bottom of still 

 pools in several parts of the kingdom. Stems much longer 

 and more slender than in C. vulgaris ; and the whole plant of 

 a bright green colour, but sometimes partially incrusted; 

 rather flexible when freshly gathered : each joint appears to 

 be divided about the middle in consequence of the smaller 

 tubes, forming the wall, being articulated midway as well 

 as at the principal joints. Nucule much larger than its 

 accompanying globule; about as long as, or rather longer than 

 the three or four apparent bracteae which accompany it." 



3. Chara pulchella. 



Char. Stem smooth, striated, flexible. Branches of the whorls 

 subulate; the fertile ones with many whorls of short 

 ramuli or bractece,, the longest of which are about the length 

 of the nucule. Nucule oblong. 



h 



