BATRACHOSPERMUM. 107 



ments. I do not think that there exist other vegetables which 

 boiling water does not immediately disorganize ; there are not 

 others that can resist temperatures so opposite." Bory. 



This species differs from Batrachospermum helmintosum by 

 its stems, which are never denuded below, but always verticil-- 

 late, and by its branches, which are more obtuse, less thick at 

 their insertion, and furnished with many secondary bran chlets. 

 I am not certain however that the B. helmintosum is anything 

 more than a variety, which the following may be also. 



4. BATRACHOSPERMUM STAGNALE Hass. 



Char. Frond yellowish green. Filaments thick, branched. 

 Whorls, distinct, slightly compressed, in the trunk confused. 



Batrachospermum ludibundum (stagnale) Bory, Annales du 

 Museum, vol. xii. p. 325. pi. 30. fig. 5. Conferva fon- 

 tana, nodosa ; spermatis ranarum instar lubrica minor et 

 viridis, Dill. Muse. vol. xvii. f. 44. Conf. stagnalis, 

 globulis viridis, centibus mucosis. Chara batrachosperma 

 Weiss, Plant. Crypt. . 



Hob. Cheshunt, Herts : A. H. H. 



"Both (Cat. Bot. i. 126. No. 11. 187.) referred this last 

 synonyme of Dillenius to a variety (/3) of Batrachospermum mo- 

 niliforme: he has since regarded this variety (Cat. Bot. iii.161.) 

 as appertaining to his Conferva mutabilis, which is one of our 

 Draparnaldice ; but certainly the figure cited by Dillenius and 

 his phrase applies perfectly to the Batrachosperm which is 

 here under consideration, and cannot be applied to any other 

 plant. The rounded and very distinct globules, which the 

 English author represents, have no kind of resemblance to the 

 scattered tufts of the Conferva mutabilis of the German natu- 

 ralist. As to the figure 43. of the ' Historia Muscorum/ there 

 is no doubt that it represents the same plant as the figure 44. 

 There is absolutely no difference but in the length of the 

 branches, which proceeds from the age of the specimens repre- 

 sented. The stagnant variety of Batrachospermum ludi- 

 bundum has great resemblance in form and diameter to 



