92 FLOWERLESS PLANTS 



this country, though some of the kinds tend to 

 resemble each other very closely. 



The other genus of stoneworts, which is 

 known as Nitella, is remarkable for the fact 

 that the stems are quite destitute of any hard 

 rind, such as is to be observed in the case of 

 the Char as. Typical of these plants is Nitella 

 translucens, where the stem is smooth and 

 transparent. The limy coating mentioned in 

 connection with the Charas does not seem to 

 be such a feature in the case of the Nitellas, 

 though it does occur on occasion. j\Iost of 

 these plants have a decidedly unpleasant smell 

 when they are removed from the water. 



With many of the fresh-water algje it may 

 be that it is only after a close examination 

 that we are able to appreciate their real beauty. 

 It is quite certain that this cannot be said of 

 the large number of seaweeds which attract 

 the attention of the most indifferent by their 

 distinctive appearance. A very large number 

 of these plants are quite different from any of 

 the fresh-water species, although here and there 

 will be found examples which are closely allied 

 to the kinds which abound in our brooks and 

 ponds. Certain species of the red seaweeds, for 



