58 PLANTS FOR TIIE 



pistils of the flowering plants arc seated. These parts are 

 of two kinds, and arc called " macules " and " globules." 

 The macules arc green, and represent the pistil, whilst the 

 globules arc of au orange color, and represent the stamens. 

 The globules contain cells, in which arc contained small 

 moving worm-like bodies, and arc interesting objects under 

 the microscope." 



The Flexile Nitella (Nitella flcxilis) is the representa- 

 tive of this order which I have found most common near 

 New York city, and differs from the other common species 

 Chara vulgaris (PI. III., Fig. 3) in having its stems composed 

 of one single cell, whilst those of the chara arc made up of 

 several twisted cells, united side by side. In this class of 

 plants, as in the Yalisneria, the circulation of the sap in 

 its cells may be readily observed under the microscope, only 

 in u superior degree. The stems of the Chara vulgaris, 

 from being coated with a deposit of calcareous matter 

 (whence its common names, stoncwort and brittlewort), 

 have to undergo preparation before the circulation can be 

 well seen : whilst with the Nitella it is simply necessary 

 to place it between two glass plates, with some water, and 

 arrange it under the microscope to see the circulation dis- 

 tinctly. The Characea are good growing plants, and look 

 very graceful in an Aquarium, the light green color of 

 the Nitella contrasting well with the dark green of the 

 Chara vulgaris, Ceratophylum and other plants, and as 

 aerators they cannot be surpassed. As I have mentioned 

 before, they have no true leaves, but stalks replacing 

 them. 



The White "Water Crow-foot (Bammeaku AquatiUs) 



