LAMPROTHAMNtfS ALOPEGUROIDES. 165 



Algse on account of the arrangement and disposition of the tubular 

 cells, which are similar to the confervoid Algae generally. Zittel 

 takes this view (Handbuch der Palseontologie, II. Abtheilung Palaeo- 

 phytologie, p. 40). Professor Sachs would place it in a 

 separate group, so widely does it differ in his estimation 

 from every other family. It is divided into two sub-families, 

 Charce, including Lychnotliamnus, LamprotJiamnus, and eu- 

 Charce ; Nitellce, including Tolypella and Nitella. No other 

 group of plants has a wider distribution than the Characece. They 

 prefer a temperate or even a cold climate. One species has been 

 gathered on the Andes 15,000 feet above the sea-level. The stems 

 of Characece vary from a few inches to three feet in length ; they 

 contain an abundance of chlorophyll, and are composed of a series 

 of cylindrical cells placed end to end, consisting often of a single 

 tube, or a cell surrounded by several smaller ones. Many 

 contain so much carbonate of lime in their organisation, independent 

 of the calcareous incrustation, that they effervesce on the applica- 

 tion of acids after dessication. Some of them, such as C. hispida, 

 have longitudinal striations with a spiral tendency. These striae, 

 especially in the case of the subgenus Chara, turn like the worm 

 of a screw from right to left, while those of the seed-vessel turn 

 in the contrary direction. The circulation of the fluids in 

 the cells is plainly shown in those plants which, like Lampro- 

 thamnus, have no incrustation. The currents proceed in a more 

 or less spiral direction, rendered visible by the grains of chloro- 

 phyll, which the currents carry with them. This circulation is 

 carried on between the two membranes, which compose the cell-walls, 

 the current passing on one side and returning on the other, move 

 in a spiral direction. Simple verticillate or branched whorls rise 

 from the axis of the leafless stem at each node, varying in 

 number and repeating in a modified form the development of the 

 stem. The verticillate branches of the Charce bear the reproductive 

 organs on their inner faces, while those of Nitellce are borne at the 

 base of the furcations at their distal ends. These reproductive 

 organs are of two kinds and always in separate bodies the 



