1879.] . 187 (Halsted. 
Var. crassicaulis A. Br. 
Chara fetida, var. crassicaulis A. Braun, in Flora, 1835, 1, 64; 
Kiutz., Phyc. Germ., 258; Sp. Ale., 523. Chara longibracteata 
var. crassicaulis Wallman, Char., 65. 
Exsiccatae: Braun, Raben. and Stiz., Char. Exsic., 69. 
Tilustration: Kiitz., Phycol., vir, Tab. 60. 
Plants densely incrusted with lime, and very brittle, giving off a 
disagreeable odor, whorls remote, consisting of 5-8 short, thick 
leaves. Sporangia small. 
A very fragile and homely Chara, most frequently found in lime- 
stone regions. 
In Herb. Gray, Gunnison, Utah, (Powell’s Survey); New Mexico, 
(C. Wright, 22, 23); Illinois, (Prof. Vasey). The most luxuriant 
specimens were sent from Union Springs, N. Y., (Miss Ladd), and 
Battle Creek, Mich., (Mr. Wilson). 
Chara contraria A. Br. 
Chara contraria A. Braun, Schweiz. Char., 15; Wallman, Char., 
76; Kiitz., Phycol. Germ., 258; Sp. Alg., 523; A. Braun in Krypt. 
F]. Schlesien, 405. Chara fetida, var. contraria Coss. and Germ., 
Fl. Env. Par., 890. 
Exsiccatae: Braun, Raben. and Stiz., Char. Exsic., 37 and 38. 
Illustrations: Coss. and Germ., Fl. Env., Par., Atlas, Tab. 37, F. 8; 
Kiitz., Tabulae Phycol., vii, Tab. 61. 
Plants monecious, incrusted with lime, slightly beayehed stem 
spirally striate .50-.75 mm. broad, spines springing from the projecting 
cortical cells, minute, and numerous in the younger portions; stipular 
ring conspicuous; whorls remote, of 6-10 variable leaves; upper por- 
tion of leaves not corticated and ending in an obtuse point, bracts 
longer than the sporangium. Sporangia .55-.65 mm. long, 12-16- 
striate. 
This species is closely related to the preceding, and is considered 
only a variety of it by Cosson and Germain in their latest edition of 
Flor. dés Envy. d’ Paris. J. Wallman, Alex. Braun, and others agree 
that C. contraria and C. fetida are much alike, but consider the 
position of the spines a good distinction. <A difference is also notice- 
able in the younger portions of the plants. In C. contraria the 
young naked leaves overarch the apex and form heads suggesting 
those of Nitella nidifica. C. fetida has the young leaves more corti- 
cated and spreading. 
Nordstedt and Wahlstedt’s collection is rich in this species ; 
several minor deviations from the type are noticed but no varieties 
