282 



CHAR AC E ft 



The older parts became mottled with white. 



Chara evidently shews, that from a number of amylaceous 

 granules a new plant may be formed ; is there any distinction 

 between these, does iodine act differently on any of them ? 



LYSIMOSCEPAS. Nov. Gen. 



Differs from the species known to me in the nature of both 

 the teguments of the female, particularly the inner, which in 

 ordinary structure is crustaceous and persistent. 



It has also minor differences, such as regard the situation 

 of the organs of reproduction, which in genuine Charae are 

 arranged along the inner side of the branches ; the female 

 above, the male close to it, below. 



My knowledge of this remarkable family is so limited, and 

 I am so unacquainted with the structure of the groups sup- 

 posed to be conterminous, that I propose this genus with 

 some hesitation. In neither of its organs does it present, as 

 appears to me, any great affinity with the higher groups of 

 acotyledonous plants : some may be imagined between its 

 filaments, and the male organs of certain Musci, and perhaps 

 the whole of Ferns, but the structure of the case containing 

 these, is altogether peculiar. 



While the female has a marked external resemblance to the 

 pistillum of Phfenogamous plants, it is probable that there is 

 no affinity in structure between them. For the so called 

 stigma never presents any of those remarkable changes sub- 

 sequent to its having received the male influence, although 

 these changes are very manifest in Mosses, which are among 

 the least developed pistilligerous plants. 



The germination of Chara is tolerably well known, and is 

 very remarkable : each female producing one axis, and not 

 several as might analogically be supposed. No embryo has 

 I believe been detected, most of the amylaceous granules act 

 perhaps as albumen. 



It differs from all higher Acotyledons, in the female organ 



