CHAEACE^E. 89 



plasm are large, the phenomenon is more easily wit- 

 nessed than in Tradescantia. 



The fructification consists of two kinds of organs, 

 viz. red globules (PL VI. fig. 22) representing the 

 anther-organ, and green capsules (fig. 22), or nucules, 

 corresponding to the ovaries. The structure of the 

 globules is very curious. Their transparent walls 

 (fig. 20) consist of eight somewhat triangular plates, 

 each of which is composed of cells radiating from a 

 centre ; and from the inside of each of these centres 

 arises a tubular cell extending to the middle of the 

 globule, the unattached ends giving origin to nume- 

 rous colourless coiled filaments, consisting of minute 

 cells arranged end to end, each containing a very 

 minute coiled spiral fibre, to which are attached two 

 exceedingly slender cilia. These ciliated fibres are 

 the spermatozoa. The capsules or nucules (fig. 22), 

 which are situated near the globules, are urn-shaped, 

 coated with spiral cells, and crowned with five shorter 

 cells. When the globules are ripe, they become rup- 

 tured by the separation of the valves ; and the sperma- 

 tozoa, escaping from the cells of the coiled filaments, 

 swim about and enter a canal in the capsules to 

 fertilize the ovule contained within. 



The Charge grow readily in a glass jar of fresh water, 

 with a few pebbles at the bottom ; and if the plants 

 be not overgrown with Confervoids, the fructification 

 will continue to be produced almost throughout the 

 year. 



The circulation is best seen in the whorled branch- 

 lets, a portion of the growing ends being placed in a 

 live-box, or simply laid upon a slide in water and 

 covered with thin glass. 



Preservation. The Algae are best preserved in two 

 ways, the entire fronds being dried upon paper under 

 pressure, as directed for the Ferns ; and small portions, 

 showing the minuter structures and fructification, 

 being mounted in chloride of calcium or glycerine. If 



i3 



