CHAPTER XV. 



VAUCHERIA. 



299. The plant vaucheria we remember from our study in 

 an earlier chapter. It usually occurs in dense mats floating 

 on the water or lying on damp soil. The texture and feeling of 

 these mats remind one of "felt," 

 and the species are sometimes called 

 the " green felts." x The branched 

 threads are continuous, that is there 

 are no cross walls in the vegetative 

 threads. This plant multiplies it- 

 self in several ways which would 

 be too tedious to detail here. But 

 when fresh bright green mats can be 

 obtained they should be placed in 

 a large vessel of water and set in 

 a cool place. Only a small amount 

 of the alga should be placed in a 

 vessel, since decay 

 will set in more 

 rapidly with a large 

 quantity. For 

 several days one 

 should look for 



small green bodies which may be floating at the side of the vessel 

 next the lighted window. 



300. Zoogonidia of vaucheria. If these minute floating green bodies are 

 found, a small drop of water containing them should be mounted for exami- 



142 



Fig.i38. 

 Portion of branched thread o. vaucheria 



