218 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



resembling the filaments of a Conferva ; more rarely, as in a plant 

 from the Lizard Downs, \ inch long, and somewhat setaceous. Bracts 

 shorter than in most forms of C. fragilis, particularly in the male 

 plant ; nucules with a shorter crown. 



The bulbils of C. fragifera are remarkable for their large size, 

 being -^ to \ inch in diameter; they are formed of an aggregation of 

 cells, and are white. 



[C. fragifera bears a close resemblance to the more slender states of 

 C. fragilis, and may possibly be only a distinct variety of that plant ; 

 it is, however, more slender, more flexible, the branchlets have more 

 numerous joints, and the bulbils are usually larger and appear to be 

 more unilateral with respect to the node they arise from, whilst on 0. 

 fragilis they seem more generally to grow out all round the node, 

 though this may not be at all constant. With No 73b of Braun, 

 Rabenh. and Stiz. Char. Exsicc, a specimen bearing unicellular bul- 

 bils is given as belonging to C. fragifera ; but in the Kew set (and no 

 doubt, from the statement made on No. 73a, in all other sets) this 

 specimen is not C. fragifera at all, but C. aspera ! of which such bul- 

 bils are characteristic, the specimen is partly decomposed ; but where 

 cortical cells remain on the stem, spine-cells are very evident, the 

 branchlets are also those of C. aspera. Doubtless Durieu has been 

 mistaken in the cases stated on No. 73a, in supposing the specimens 

 with simple bulbils to be C. fragifera ; he appears only to have found 

 them on plants in a more or less decomposed condition, in which 

 state the characteristics of C. aspera might easily be overlooked, 

 especially if growing in a locality where C. fragifera was found.] 



My British specimens of C. fragifera are through the Botanical 

 Exchange Club, from Chy-an-hal, near Penzance, and Pond of Lizard 

 Downs, Mr. J. Ralfs, and G-orkhill Down, Helston, Mr. J. Cunnack. 



Strawberry Chara. 



[Erratum. — For Arthur Bennett on p. 173, line 21, read A. W. 

 Bennett.] 



