416 
itself begun to fructify. Hence it is reasonable to conclude that the nucule 
is really monospermous. Brongniart remarks, that it is true, when a fresh 
nucule of Chara is cut across, an infinite number of little white grains are 
squeezed out ; but if these were reall)7^ all reproductive particles, how would 
they ever find their way out of the nucule, which is indehiscent ? he consi- 
ders them rather of the nature of albumen. And he is the more confirmed 
in his opinion, because in Pilularia, the thecse of which also contain many 
similar grains, but one plant is produced by each theca. Finally, Amici, 
has described (Ann. des Sc. 2.) the nucule in another way. He admits it to 
be monospermous, but he considers the points of the 5 valves to be stigmata, 
and the valves themselves to be at once pericarp and style. It is not worth 
entering into any discussion upon the reasonableness of such a supposition, 
as it is not likely to find any advocates among botanists ; but T may observe, 
that Amici’s observations seem to shew that the 5 valves of the nucule, as 
they are called, are a verticillus of leaves, straight at first, and twisted after- 
wards ; and that the nucule itself is, therefore, analogous to the bud of flower- 
ing plants. 
The globule is described by Greville as “a minute round body, of a red- 
dish colour, composed externally of a number of triangular (always .^) scales, 
which separate and produce its dehiscence. The interior is filled with a mass 
of elastic transversely undulate filaments. The scales are composed of radiat- 
ing hollow tubes, partly filled with minute coloured spherical granules, which 
freely escape from the tubes when injured.” Vaucher describes them as 
“ tubercles formed externally of a reticulated transparent membrane, contain- 
ing, in the midst of a mucilaginous fluid, certain white articulated transparent 
filaments, and some other cylindrical bodies, closed at one end, and appearing 
to open at the other. These latter are filled with the red matter to which the 
tubercles owe their colour, and which disappears readily and long before the 
maturity of the nucule.” The account of the globule by Agardh is at va- 
riance with both these. “ Their surface,” he remarks, “ is hyaline, or colour- 
less ; under this membrane is observed a red and reticulated or cellular globe, 
which has not, however, always such an appearance ; often, instead of this 
reticulated aspect, the globe is colourless, but marked by rosettes or stars, the 
rays of which are red or lanceolate. In the figures given by authors, one 
finds sometimes one of these forms, sometimes the other. I have myself 
found them both on the same species ; and I am disposed to believe that the 
last state is the true kernel of the globule, concealed under the reticulated 
scale. (When the globule is very ripe, one may often succeed, by means of a 
slight degree of pressure, in separating it into several valves, as is very weU 
shewn in Wallroth’s figures, tab. 2. f. 3. and tab. 5. These valves are 
rayed, and no doubt answer to the stars, of which mention has been made.) 
The kernel contains some very singular filaments ; they are simple (I once 
thought I saw them forked), curved and interlaced, transparent and colourless, 
with transverse striae, parallel and closely packed, as in an OsciUatoria or 
Nostoc; but what is very remarkable, they are attached, several together, to a 
particular organ formed like a bell, which is itself also colourless, but fiUed 
with a red pigment. This bell, to the base of which on the outside they are 
fixed, diflers a little in form in different species. It is slender and long in 
Chara vulgaris, thicker in C. firma, shorter in C. delicatula, and shorter still in 
C. collabens. I have not succeeded in determining the exact position of these 
beUs in the kernel. I have often thought they were the same thing as the rays 
of the rosettes or stars upon the globule above mentioned ; whence it would 
follow that they are placed near the surface, while the filaments have a direc- 
tion towards the centre. The bells are not numerous ; they often separate 
from the filaments, and readily part with their pigment, which renders it diffi- 
