ACTlOGENiE. 



•11 



1094. 



Sub-order 4. Ricciacece or Ricciea:. — Crystalworts. — Sporan- 

 gia without valves; bursting irregularly; without a columella. 

 Spores not mixed with elaters. Examples: — Riccia, Sphasro- 

 carpus. 



Distribution, Sfc. — The plants of this order are generally dif- 

 fused over the globe, but they are most abundant in damp 



shady places in tropical climates. There are about 65 genera, 



and 700 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Of no importance. Some have been 



used in liver complaints, and Marchantia hemispherica and 



other species have been employed in 



the form of poultices, in dropsy. 

 Natural Order 292. Charace^. 



— The Chara Order. — Water plants, 



with a distinct stem, branching in a 



whorled manner {fig. 1 094), and either 



transparent or coated with carbonate 



of lime. Reproductive organs of two 



kinds, arising at the base of the 



branches (fig. 813), and either on 



the same or on different branches of 



the same plant, or on separate plants. 



These organs are termed globules 



(Jigs. 813, ^r, 814, and 815), and nu- 

 cules (figs. 813,n, 816, and 817). 



(See pages 381 and 382 for a de- 

 tailed account of their structure.) 

 Distribution, 8fc. — The plants of 



this order occur in stagnant fresh 



or salt water in all parts of the 



globe; but they are most abundant 



in temperate climates. Examples: — 



There are two genera, Chara and 



Nitella, and 35 species. 



Properties and Uses. — These plants 



give off a very foetid odour when in 



a state of decay, which is regarded as 



very injurious to animal life. They 



have no known uses. 



Fig. 1094. A small portion of a 

 species of Chara, magnified. 

 The branches are arranged in 

 a whorled manner. In the in- 

 terior of each cell the fluid 

 matters with the contained 

 granules exhibit a kind of cir- 

 culation. The direction of the 

 circulation is indicated by the 

 arrows. The circulating mat- 

 ter does not pass from cell to 

 cell, but is confined to that in 

 which it originates. 



Artificial Analysis of the Natural Orders 



AcROGEN^. 



in the Sub-class 



(The numbers refer to the Orders.) 



1. With a distinct axis or stem. 

 A. Leaf y plants. 



a. Sporangia on the back or margin of (he fronds 

 or leaves, or on metamorphosed leaves . 



Filices. 286. 



