which a capsule rests, the continuation of the peduncle forming
the anther.
Occasionally it happens that the capsules are sessile, and
the plant bears some resemblance to Vaucheria sessilis; it
differs, hoAvever, in being altogether much smaller, and in the
form of the capsules.
I t Avas first discovered in England by W. Borrer, Esq., as
far hack as 1807. I t is by no means uncommon throughout
England.
d. Capsules in clusters, lateral, pedunculate.
10. V aucheria racemosa Vauch.
Plate I I I . Fig. 2.
Char. Capsules usually fo u r in number, placed upon a peduncle
common to all, lohich terminates in a single anther.
Ectosperma racemosa Vauch. Hist, des Conf. d’Eau douce,
p. 32. pi. ii. fig. 8.; Grev. Alg. Brit. p. 195.; Harv. in
loc. cit. p. 149.
Hab. About E dinburgh: Dr. Greville. Vicinity of Cheshunt,
not uncommon.
“ This species is one of the most common, and is found in
nearly all ditches, principally in the spring. I t is loaded
with little bouquets manifest to the unassisted sight, and
which with the microscope seem to be formed of a common
peduncle, subdivided into pedicels, each of which carries on its
summit a spherical body, in every way resembling the grains
of other eotosperms, bu t nearly half as small again. In the
middle of this bouquet is the horn, which, without doubt,
performs the function of a male flower, and which is here
but a prolongation of the peduncle. The number of grains
varies from five to seven, but commonly four are met with.”
— Vaucher.
I t is this species which is most frequently infested with
the curious parasite, Cyclops lupula of Midler, which occasions
the groAvth on the filaments of such extraordinary-looking
appendages, in the midst of which the parasite resides.
i
A second racemose species is described by Vaucher, hut
this has not as yet been found in England; it differs in several
essential respects from Vaucheria racemosa. The grains, like
those of V. racemosa, are all supported on a common peduncle
furnished with pedicels ; but they are much larger and of a
different form, and each, moreover, is supphed with a distinct
anther.
e. Capsules in pairs, terminal.
11. V aucheria ovoidea Vauch.
Plate V. Fig. 3.
Char. Capsules in terminal pairs, a recurved anther being
placed between each pair.
Ectosperma ovoidea Vauch. Hist. p. 3 0 .; Spec. Plant,
p. 1634.; Flor. Ang. p. 954.; Flor. Scot. p. 979.;
Withering, iv. p. 129.; Roth. Flor. Germ. p. 1. No. 7.;
Cat. Bot, i. p. 16., ii. p. 192.: Conf. amphibia fibrillosa
et spongiosa Dill, Hist. Muse. p. 22. t. 4. fig. 17. B.
and C. B. ramis elongatis; Grev. Alg. Brit. p. 194. ;
Harv. in Hook. Br. Flor. p. 320.; Conf. amphibia
Dilhv. t. 41 .; Conf. furcata B. Fl. Ang. p. 592.;
Withering, iv. p. 128.; Ceramium ccespitosum Roth.
Flor. Germ. iii. pp. 1. 475.; Cat. Bot. i. p. 154. ii.
p. 186.; Conf. palustris filamentis brevioribus et crassior-
ibus Ray, Syn, p. 447.
“ Amongst flowering plants Ave find several instances of
striking varieties produced by the more or less watery
situation in which individuals chance to grow ; and perhaps
no botanist would acknowledge the two most opposite
varieties of Myosotis scorpioides, or Lotus corniculatus, to
be the same species, without an opportunity of tracing them
through their several gradations. The same may be said of
the present plant, Avhich has hitherto formed two species, and
it is only after a careful examination that I have united
them as one.”