CHARA. 



277 



filamentous bodies are produced ; and beyond tiie filaments 

 which form a pencil of whorls, the tube is again continued. 



The fasciculate radiate cells are a multiple of four, being 

 partly seen when the globe is viewed vertically. 



After maceration a short time in nitric acid when nearly ma- 

 ture, it will be found that the radiate cells may be dissected 

 out, each carrying away with it, the tube that passed from the 

 centre, around the new free apex of which, the confervoid 

 filaments are arranged. 



Although it is not easy to trace the radiating cells : insert- 

 ed distinctly on the end of the radii, yet I have seen instances 

 in which they were really articulated to it, as would be 

 expected. 



It is singular that the tube of attachment is the only part 

 whose contents are violeted by iondine. These tubes are of 

 some size and formed of beautiful hyaline membrane, the fila- 

 ments do not spring immediately from it, but are iu tufts, 

 arising really from a whorl of short cells. 



One result of this is, that the supposed males have a different 

 organisation from what is usually ascribed to them. 



And as the female so minutely represents an axis of 

 a Chara, so the male has its own analogies equally curi- 

 ous. For the involucre is doubtless to be considered as 

 arising from the cohesion of a number of parts, all 

 consisting of tubes, radiating from a tube. This tube is 

 again a branch of the axis, and the filaments are nothing but 

 simple shortened tubes, placed end to end, arising from a 

 point, the very place, and the only place in which branches are 

 produced, and in some, indefinitely. 



See Diagram (right lower corner, plate LXIV) which repre- 

 sents a section through the axis. 



a. Radiating cohering branches. 



b. Branch of radiaton. 



c. Filament. 



e. Branch or pedicel. 



