The Stmeworts 



137 



The stoneworts (Chafacede)^ — -TJiig group: is well repre- 

 serited in freshwater by two oonimoii genera, well known 

 to every biological laboratory student, Char a and 

 Nitella. Both grow in protected shoals, and in the 

 borders of clear lakes at depths below the heavy beating 

 of the waves. Both are brittle and cannot withstand 



Pig, 55. Nitella glomerulifera. 



wave action. Both prefer the waters that flow off from 

 calcareous soils, and are oftenest found attached to a 

 stony bottom. 



The stoneworts, are the most specialized of the fresh- 

 water algae: indeed, they are not ranked as algae by 

 some botanists. In form they have more liken.ess to 

 qertain land plants than to any of the other algae. 



