THE CHAEA FAMILY. 519 



Verrucdria nitida. T., especially ashes. 



E. B., Supp. i. 2607 (Fig. 1). 



■ gemmata. T., chiefly young oaks. 



E. B., Supp. i. 2617 (Fig. 2). 



— nigrhcens. W. 



E. B. xxi. 1499. 



CLVIII.— THE CHARA FAMILY. Chardcece. 



Insignificant aquatics, consisting of jointed stems composed of parallel 

 tubes, which are either transparent or encrusted with carbonate of lime, 

 and of regular whorls of symmetrical branches of similar structure. 

 Sometimes the tubes are solitary. They live wholly submerged, 

 growing principally in stagnant water, are very brittle, and often 

 unpleasantly scented. The fructification is developed in the axils of 

 the upper whorls of branchlets, and consists of minute globules of two 

 different kinds, the precise nature of which is not yet understood. 

 Sixteen species are reputed indigenous, four of them being found neaf 

 Manchester. 



Stem and branches composed of a sei-ies of simple bright- 

 green and transparent tubes. 



Stems one or two feet long, rather rigid 1. TRANsrABENT 



Chara. 



Stems six to twelve inches long, very flexible 2. Slender Chaea. 



Stem and branches composed of a central tube, surroimded by 



a series of smaller and similar tubes, arranged spirally, 



and the whole more or less incrusted with carbonate 



of lime. 



Upper part of the plant beset with tufts of long-pointed 



tubercles. Stems one to two feet long, branched, 



and completely incrusted 4. Prickly Chara. 



No such tubercles. Stems six to nine inches long, little 1 3. Common Foetid 

 branched, and never quite incrusted. Very foetid. . J Chara. 



HABITATS AND LOCALITIES. 

 1. Transparent Cha.ra — {Nitella translucens). 

 Ditches and pools in peaty soil, rather rare. About Baguley. 

 Ponds near Barlow Moor. Abundant in a pit near Burford Lanfij 

 Lymm. (Mr. John Moss.) 



E. B. xxvi. 1855 (as Chara translucew!). 



