CHARA. 13 
1.—Chara Knowltoni, sp. nov. 
Type. Imperfectly preserved oogonia discovered by Mr. Rufford 
at Cliff End, near Hastings. British Museum. Registered number 
V. 1070a. Woodcut, Fig. 1. 
Oogonia broadly oval in form, the largest specimens about ‘5m. 
long and approximately the same breadth at the broadest part. 
Surface marked with eleven or twelve ridges, arranged in the 
form of a flattened spiral very little removed from the horizontal. 
Fig. 1.—Oogonium of Chara Knowltoni, sp. nov. (V. 1070a), x 30. 
Each specimen is covered by a thin and brittle layer of car- 
bonaceous matter, and in all probability the ridged surface is that 
of the enveloping cells, the substance of which is left as a black 
film moulded on the ridged and furrowed surface of the oospore. 
The examples on which this species is founded are confessedly 
meagre, and hardly such as to warrant the institution of an 
additional species. Such characters, however, as are available 
indicate very clearly marked differences from the Wealden species 
previously described. It may, therefore, serve a useful purpose 
to designate the British specimens by a new name, provided the 
fact be kept in mind that the material hitherto found in the 
English beds is not at all adequate for the purposes of thorough 
specific definition. I have ventured to name this species after 
Mr. Knowlton, who has recently added to our knowledge of 
fossil Charas. 
The present species differs from the other Wealden form, 
Chara Jaccardi, in haying many more surface ridges, and in its 
more globular and less elongated shape. The globular form may, 
however, as previously suggested, be, to a certain extent, the result 
of flattening. 
A specimen figured by Squinabol! from Tertiary beds of Liguria, 
1 Contrib. Fl. foss. Liguria, vol. i. p. 7, pl. xii. figs 1 and 2. 
