1879.] 171 [Halsted. 
therozoid is a spirally twisted, naked, protoplasmic body, many times 
longer than broad, and is capable of a very rapid motion by means 
of two cilia which are placed near one end. 
Sporangia (nucules):—These are the female organs and whe1 
mature are usually of an ovoid shape, and .30 to 1.10 mm. in length. 
The sporangium consists of a large central cell, the spore, and five 
tubes which are coiled closely around it. The sporangium is a trans- 
formed leaflet. 
Non-sexual organs of reproduction: — Bulblets are found in a 
number of species; they occur most frequently at the lower nodes of 
the plant near the surface of the ground, where few or no leaves are 
developed and the internodes are colorless. 
A second method of non-sexual reproduction is found in Chara 
fragilis, which is called by Pringsheim! “ Branches with naked base.” 
Classification: — It is difficult to place the Characez very close to 
any other group of Cryptogams. ‘Their method of development, sex- 
ual organs, and anatomical structure separate them from the Vascular 
Cryptogams on the one side, and the Thallophytes on the other; and 
bring them nearer to the Muscinee than to any other general group. 
Of the Muscinez they bear the most resemblance to mosses. Differing 
as they do so widely, even from the mosses, in being less complex in 
structure and in the development of the fruit, it seems fitting that the 
Characez be placed in a group by themselves and arranged with the 
others in the following order, proceeding from the highest to the low- 
est: Vascular Cryptogams, Muscinee, Characee, and Thallophytes. 
Order CHARACEZ. 
Characters : — Aquatic, cryptogamic plants growing in tufts or 
masses on the bottoms of ponds or running streams, and attached to the 
muddy substratum by long, slender rhizoids. ‘The plants are often 
of a bright green color, especially when young; but afterwards many 
species become incrusted with a coating of carbonate of lime and 
then present an ashy appearance and are fragile in structure. 
The stems consist of single, long, cylindrical cells placed end to 
end; or with the addition of an enveloping coat of smaller parallel 
cells (cortication), the latter frequently provided with spines or 
papille. 
1 Ueber die Vorkeime und die nacktfussigen Zweige der Charen. Pringhs., 
Jahrbucher. 3. p. 294. 
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