Characee.| FLORA OF TASMANIA. 159 
easily recognized by its floating habit, closely distichously-branched stem, and minute imbricating leaves. The 
fructification forms small globular masses on the under surface of the frond. 
Gen. II. PILULARIA, Z. 
1. Pilularia globulifera (Linn. Sp. Pl.).—£ngl. Bot. t. 591. (Gunn, 1561.) 
Has. Marshy ground near Penquite, Gunn, and probably common elsewhere, but easily overlooked. 
Disrris. Swan River, Europe, North Africa. (A native of England.) 
Dr. Valentine, who has examined this plant in Tasmania, says that it might be distinguished from the European 
by the curved pedicels and pendulous capsules, but I find precisely similar states in English specimens. In Swan 
River specimens of P. globulifera the capsules are placed as in the European plant.—Rhizome slender, creeping, 
often submerged, rooting at the nodes. Leaves capillary, 2-4 inches high, bright-green. Capsules like pills, 
sessile or shortly peduncled, 2 lines in diameter, covered with hairs, four-celled, four-valved at the top, containing 
spores of two sorts, one large, the other very minute. 
Nat. Og». IV. CHARACEZ. 
The Characez are all fresh-water plants (very rarely inhabiting brackish water), often forming densely 
matted patches. They are leafless, with whorled branches, and minute axillary fructification. There are 
probably very many Tasmanian species, but they are difficult of investigation. The following enumeration 
of the known Tasmanian species is by Professor Alexander Braun, of Berlin, who is preparing a work on 
the Order; the descriptions of several have not, I believe, been published. In an able paper on the Aus- 
tralian and Antarctic Chare, by Professor A. Braun, of Berlin, in Hooker's ‘London Journal of Botany,' 
1849, that learned author remarks that in Australia the greatest number of species are dicecious, whilst in 
Europe the contrary is the case; as also that all the true Chare of Australia belong to the division Haplo- 
stephanee, while in other parts of the world the division Diplostephanez prevails, which latter seems to 
be entirely absent in Australia. 
Gen. I. CHARA, Z. 
1. Chara gymnopitys (A. Braun). 
Has. Derwent River, rivulets at Launceston, etc. (Gunn, 1573, 1568, 1568?) 
2. Chara myriophylla (F. Mueller). 
Has. Ponds at Georgetown; shallow muddy water, Lake St. Clair. (Guan, 1568, 1572.) 
3. Chara australis (Br. Prodr. 346).— Braun, in Linnea, xvii. 117; Plant. Preiss. i. 148; 
Hook. Lond. Journ. Bot. i. 201. 
Has. South Esk River, near Launceston. (Gunn, 1565, 1000.) 
Disteıs. Swan River, Victoria, New South Wales, New Zealand. 
4. Chara leptopitys (A. Braun). 
Has. Mixed with Zriglochin; Georgetown, near the sea, in places dry in summer. (Gunn, 1568, 
1569.) 
b. Chara Hookeri (A. Braun, in Hook. Lond. Journ. Bot. i. 202).—(F. microphylla, F. Muel/.) 
Has. South Esk River, near Perth. (Gunn, 1001.) 
6. Chara mollusca (A. Braun). 
Has. Lake St. Clair; abundant. (Gunn, 1570, 1571.) 
