108 
OF THE CHARACEJ3. 
with carbonate of lime ; an unfortunate property for the 
collector, as it renders them so brittle, that he has some 
difficulty in securing plants in a perfect condition. 
All the Characea? prefer, for their habitats, ponds and 
ditches with a muddy bottom, and in which the water is 
clear, although stagnant : they are rarely found in swiftly 
flowing streams and rivers. As a rule, they prefer shallow 
pieces of water, though many species flourish at consider- 
able depths in the larger lakes. Some, perhaps a fourth of 
the European varieties, delight in brackish water ; a few in 
the sea itself. Their geographical range is wide, being 
found in greater or less abundance in every quarter of the 
globe, although most common in the more temperate 
climes. 
On account of the extreme brittleness which characterises 
these plants, it is extremely difficult to handle them without 
breaking off j)ortions. A first consideration, then, with the 
collector is to avoid entangling the individuals as they are 
brought out of the water, as his subsequent efforts to 
separate them from each other will cause him infinite 
trouble and vexation. 
There is no difficulty in collecting them, when they 
chance to grow near the bank. The collector must dip his 
hand into the water, and seizing a tuft of the plants as near 
to the root as possible, grasp them firmly and draw them 
up to the surface in such a way that they shall not bend 
over on themselves, and get their branches twisted and 
jumbled together. Before attempting to get rid of the 
mud, quantities of which are sure to be clinging about the 
root, the upper clean part should be enveloped in paper : 
this will prevent it from getting dirtied, and will keep the 
stem and branches from entangling. Then hold the roots 
in the water, kneading them softly with the hand, but not 
drawing the fingers through them. The purified masses 
may then be laid lengthways between folds of damp paper 
and carried home : a portfolio is the best and safest mode of 
transport. The greatest care must be taken not to allow 
