'60 BRITISH CHAROPHYTA. 



large irregular compound wtitish bulbils ; internodes 

 often scarcely exceeding the branchlets. Cortex usually 

 evenly triplostichous, the primary series rather larger 

 than the secondary ; spine-cells quite rudimentary. 

 Whorls of 6-9 branchlets. Stipulodes rudimentary. 

 Branchlets slender, fiexuous, those of the male plant 

 usually shorter and more connivent, of 9-13 segments, 

 the upper 1-3 ecorticate. Bract-cells normally 5, the 

 anterior pair only developed, very short, much less than 

 half the length of the fruit (in the S still shorter); 

 hracteoles and bractlet rather longer than the anterior 

 bract-cells, rather acuminate. Oogonia and antheridia 

 solitary or rarely geminate, produced at the lowest 3-5 

 branchlet-nodes. Oogonium c. 875-1000 (x long (excl. 

 cor.), 550-675 [i, broad; spiral-cells often reddish orange, 

 showdng 12-14 convolutions ; coronula c. 125-175 (x 

 high, 175-200 (i. broad, connivent straight or sometimes 

 spreading. Oospore oblong-ellipsoid, 550-700 (i, long, 

 375-450 [X broad, chestnut-brown to nearly black, 

 showing 9-12 ridges, prolonged downwards into a cage; 

 outer membrane thick-laminated, semi-rigid, semi-opaque, 

 dark red-brown, finely and evenly granulated. Anthe- 

 ridium c. 500-575 [x in diameter. 



Habitat and Distribution. — In pools and ponds, 

 Cornwall, West. Apparently confined to the Scilly Isles, 

 and the Land's End and Lizard districts. Tresco, 

 Scilly Isles; near Sennen,Chyanhal Moor, near Penzance ; 

 Marazion Maish, near Helston, and in many pools 

 and ponds on the downs, north of Lizard Town, and in 

 valleys running down westward to the sea ; Mabe 

 Reservoir. First described as British from specimens 

 collected by the eminent algologist, John Ralfs, at 

 Chyanhal Moor, collected earlier by Mr. Townsend at 

 Tresco, and by Messrs. Beeby and Tellam near Lizard, 

 but referred to C. fragilis. 



First record: 'Journ. Bot.' 1877. 



Outside the British Isles C. fragifera is recorded from 

 France (North, West and Central), Spain (North), 



