Halsted.) 184 : [March 5, 
numerous, consisting of 8-12 leaves; leaves 1-2 cm. long, with basal 
articulation naked, and nearly one-third of the length of the leaf. The 
three lower nodes fertile and the internode above each, corticated; upper 
portion of leaves without cortications and ending in a whorl of large 
bracts. Antheridia small. Sporangia long, with large spreading 
crown, spore jet black. 
The plants which answer to the above description are more nearly 
related to C. gymnopus than to any other species. They differ from 
that species in being less than half as large, and having the upper 
portion of the leaves free from cortication. The bracts are much 
broader and longer than in C. gymnopus, and the stipular ring is 
more conspicuous. Besides these differences, the much greater lenoth 
of the naked basal cell of the leaves of these plants, justifies their 
separation as a distinct species. 
The plants were collected in Apponaug Pond, Rhode Island, and 
appear among the unnamed specimens received from Dr. J. W. Rob- 
bins, after whom we take pleasure in naming the species. 
Chara gymnopus A. Br. 
Chara gymnopus A. Braun, Schweiz. Char., 23; Char. Afrik., 874; 
Char. Australis, Hook. Jour. Bot., 1849, 1, 203. 
Plants monecious, slightly incrusted with lime, yellowish green; 
stem 40-50 mm. broad, spines few; whorls remote, 7-12 leaves; 
leaves with basal articulation naked, otherwise entirely corticated, 
apex of five sharp unequal cells, articulations 8-10, bracts at fertile 
joints equal in length to sporangium. Sporangia oblong .40-.50 mm. 
in length, 10-12-striate, crown short with a broad top. 
The species was founded on specimens which were collected in 
Egypt. It is not found in Europe. With us C. gymnopus is rather 
common, and is subject to considerable variation. 
In Herb. Gray: No. 5, 7 and 8 of C. Wright’s New Mexican col- 
lection; Western Texas, (Wright, No. 2); Fredericksburgh, (F. 
Lindheimer, No. 478); the most northern locality being Potomac 
River; the exact point not given. 
Var. elegans A. Br. 
Stem .75-.90 mm., broad, with numerous long spines; whorls remote 
below, approximating above into a large head ; bracts at fertile joints 
two to three times the length of the sporangia, those at the sterile 
joints exceeding the length of the articulation next above. Sporangia 
large, .55-.70 mm. long, crown .25-.30 mm. broad. 
This variety differs from the normal form in being larger; the 
