4 BRITISH CHABOPHYTA. 



Tolypellopsis stelUgera Migula Die Characeen, p. 255, f. 70-3 (1890) ; 

 Syn. Charac. Europ. p. 63, f. 58-60 (1898). 



HoLTZ Charac. Mark-Brandenb. p. 40, f. 1-8, pp. 84-5 (1903). 



Peospek Carofit. Espan. p. 87, f. 15b (1910). 

 T. obtusa Beguinot & Fobmiggini, Biill. Soc. Bot. Ital. 1907, p. 102. 

 T. ulvoides Wille in Engler & Prantl, Nat. Pfl.-fam. I, ii, p. 174 (1891). 

 Nitellopsis obtusa J. Geoves in Journ. Bot. LVII, p. 127 (1919). 



ExsiccATA : — Areschoug 397 ; Braun, Rabenh. & Stiz. 1, 34 ; 

 Groves 20 ; Lloyd 406, 407 ; Migula, Syd. & Wahlst. 10, 54, 55 ; 

 Nordstedt & Wahlst. 49 a & b ; Rabenhorst 479. 



Dioecious. Stem stout, producing at the lowest nodes 

 rhizoid-like branches, bearing large white much thick- 

 ened star-shaped nodes, the rays of which resemble 

 modified branchlets. Internodes usually equalling or 

 not much exceeding the branchlets. Whorls of 5-7 

 straight or slightly incurved branchlets. Stipulodes 

 absent ; lower peripheral cells of the stem-nodes regular, 

 almost always three times as numerous as the>branchlets. 

 Branchlets very long, of 2-3 segments, the ultimate 

 segment elongated, acuminate or mucronate. Bract- 

 cells 1-2, very long and thick, acuminate or mucronate, 

 almost as large as the ultimate branchlet-segment, 

 sometimes absent. Oogonia and antheridia solitary or 

 geminate. Oogonia nearly globular, c. 1200-1400 fx 

 long, 1000-1200 fj. thick ; spiral-cells showing about 

 9 convolutions ; coronula small, apparently deciduous, 

 c. 65 [X high, 15.0 [i broad, strongly connivent. Oospore 

 bitruncate-ellipsoid, c. 775 [x long, 600 jj. thick, golden- 

 brown showing about 7 low but well-defined ridges, 

 terminating at the base in very short claws ; outer 

 membrane thin, flexible, translucent, dull yellow-brown, 

 faintly and very finely decorated with granulations, 

 more or less linearly arranged. Antheridium very large, 

 c. 1000 (X in diameter. 



Habitat. — In deep water, usually near the coast, 

 plentiful in several of the Norfolk Broads and in some of 

 the channels connecting them, extremely rare elsewhere. 



Distribution. — England: Devon, S., Slapton Ley 

 {H. Groves, 1884, once found) ; Hants, S., Sowley Pond 

 {G. R. B.-W., 1900, once found) ; Surrey, pool by R. 



