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NEW YORK 
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Contributions to Japanese Characeae, 
By T. F. Allen. 
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These observations will be continued as collections come to 
hand, and for the present no attempt will be made to systematize 
the species. 
1. Char a fragilis Desv. A slender form of this species, 
differing in no particular from forms collected in other countries. 
The cortex is tolerably regular; the primary series most promi¬ 
nent, the papillae undeveloped. The bracts are unilateral and 
equal the oogonium in length, the latter immature. 
2 and 3. C11. coronata A. Br. Three collections of this spe¬ 
cies have been made, all in the vicinity of Tokio ; one form seems 
to be longer, with long leaves (probably from deeper water). It 
does not differ from the ordinary forms, even the minute tuft at 
the apex of the leaves, composed of the terminal cell with two or 
three elongated nodal bracts, is similar; this form is microcarpa, 
microptila, unilateralis. The coronula of the oogonium is short 
with spreading tips, the subtending bracts only half the length of 
the oogonium, the oospore small, 540 long, 306 broad. 
4. Nitella Japonica Allen, Bull. Torr. Club, 20: 120 ; 21 : 
pi. 188. Province of Tokio. 
5. N. mucronata tenuior A. Br. This beautiful form was 
collected in the province of Ise, and doubtless is to be referred to 
this variety. The leaves (6) are at times 3-divided (flabellata), 
and now and then the sub-terminal is septate, thus connecting it 
with JV. gracilis Kutz. The whole plant is very slender, leaves 
170 in diameter, mucro 34 in diameter at base. The oogonia are 
usually solitary in both divisions of the leaves ; the oospore aver¬ 
ages 306 long, 270 broad, with 6 striae ; the surface reticulated, 
the reticulae 2 to 7 in diameter (easily seen with a half-inch 
lens). 
6. N. Japonica Allen ; from province of Ise. 
7. N. ORIENTALIS Sp. nov. 
Nos. 7, 8 and 9, though variable, may belong to the same 
species. Plant 6—8 inches long, repeatedly branched, the verticils 
