147 



Nitella (Tolypella) intricata {Roth.), Ag. 

 In a brook below an old mill in Boxford, Aug. 13, 1876. "The 

 Tewksbury specimens resemble those gathered by Mr. Wright in 

 the Leom river, Texas, being in size between the small specimens 

 just mentioned (from Louisiana), and the large showy plants of 

 Boxford,' Mass. (Robinson)" (Halsted's Char.). 



CHARES. 



Chara corouata, var. Schweinitzii, A. Br. 

 Wenham pond, Aug., 1875 ; Chebacco pond. The typical form of 

 this species grows near Boston. 



Cliara gymnopus, var. elegans, A. Br. 

 Pleasant pond, Wenham, Aug., 1875. "The variety elegans seems 

 to have been first found in America by Oakes. In the Gray her- 

 barium Is a specimen collected by him, which, however, bears neither 

 date nor locality. It probably came from Essex county, Mass., where 

 the variety has been recently re-discovered by Mr. John Robinson, 

 who reports that it is rather common in Chebacco lake." Among 

 the specimens in alcohol sent by Mr. Robinson, a deviation from 

 the variety form was found. The difference is confined entirely 

 to the leaves, the more slender nature of which, as well as its much 

 shorter bracts at the sterile joints, is noticeable. The excessive 

 length of the bracts around the sexual organs is in cont^-ast with 

 those in the ordinary form. The most striking peculiarity of the 

 plant is its not bearing both sexual organs at the same joint. 

 Usually, a single sporangium and antheridium were found on each 

 leaf, sometimes two sporangia and no antheridium, or two antheridia 

 and no sporangium, but never more than two of these organs on 

 a leaf, and these at the second and third joints from the base. This 

 arrangement of the sexual organs may be considered as steps 

 towards a dicecious species, first, in the separation of the organs to 

 different joints, and then to different leaves. This form is of great 

 interest, and would furnish a fine subject to one who loves such 

 deviations, and can procure an abundance of specimens " (Halsted's 

 Char.). 



1 Since the aljove was written, Dr. T. F. Allen of New Yoric, whose mono- 

 graph of the North American Charq,ceas is now in process of publication, has 

 requested specimens of the Boxford plant, and from those sent, he considers 

 the species to be 

 Ifitella polygloohin, A. Br., 



an East Indian species which, as he says, supports a theoi-y regarding certain 



Chavaceae, that he intends presenting before the Torrey Botanical Club very soon. 



' This should read Pleasant pond, Wenham. 



