the figure which he lias given of one of the species of our
genus.”
“ The buds of the LemanicB, sessile, naked, rounded, more
or less numerous, are situated at the points of junction of the
cells, which by their growth they render tumid. When
these gemmules come to cover or deform the plants they
ajipear to detach themselves from th em ; they carry away
sometimes the joints Avhich support them and elongate themselves
to reproduce new Lemania."
The above observations certainly do not apply to the
Lemania p roper; but Bory has included in the genus one
species at least (Chara hatrachosperma, of which Batracho-
spermum atrum is a synonyme) which does not belong to
it, and on this, distorted and irregular-looking bodies do
occur, which I take to be analogous to the “ glomerules ” of
other Batrachosperms; in this species as in others of the
same genus the interior tube referred to hy Bory would be
found.
“ The Lemania are very rigid plants and with a peculiar
and corneous ajipearance; they crack under the teeth with a
taste Avhich reminds one of that of fish.”
“ M. Thore of Dax first remarked, in the Conferva flu v ia tilis
of Linnaius, a fact which is verified in the other species of
our genus. The recent filaments of this Lemania, presented
towards the flame of a candle, explode and extinguish the
candle. This phenomenon does not take place in dried
specimens. I t is owing to some gas shut up in the connections
of the joints, and which, put in expansion by the
heat, presses against the walls and breaks them with an explosion.
A remarkable movement of retraction is experienced
in the fingers which hold by the two extremities the
filament experimented upon. As to the smell of the burnt
plant, although very peculiar, it cannot be compared to that of
animal substances submitted to the fire.”
“ I have no t m e t w ith any Lemania in stag n an t Avaters;
th ey groAV in quick waters. I t is in th e p u re fountains,
large rivers, in very rapid rivulets, th a t th e y appear to dc-
liglit. Many, moreover, flourish csjiccially in those places
where the current has the greatest force, such as in mill
sluices and the most impetuous falls of cascades.
“ We have named our new genus Lemania. This name
comes from tha t of M. Léman, a modest naturalist, not less
learned in botany than in the other branches of science.” —
Bory.
Kfitzing, in his “ Phycologia Generalis,” appears to have
studied this genus closely ; he there gives a beautiful, elaborate,
and accurate draAving of Lemania torulosa, from Avlileli
the figure of tha t species given in this Avork is chiefly derived.
1. L emania torulosa Ay.
Plate V II.
Char. LrorA nearly simple, incurved. Inflations o/iiAe stem
larye, approximate.
Lemania incurvata, filamentis simplicibus, incurvatis, arti-
culis in centro turcjidis, Bory, Annales du Musée, vol. xii.
p. 181. pi. xxi. fig. 1. Chantransia (torulosa) virescente-
nicjrescens, filamentis sub simplicibus, articulis ovatis,
medio tumidis, Cand. Syn. 10. Chantransie en colliers,
Cand. Flor. fr. 2. p. 50. Conferva (torulosa) filamentis
filiformibus, torulosis ; yeniculis contractis, dnnularibus ;
articulis ovalibus, infiatis, Roth. Cat. Bot. 1. 200. ; Fl.
German, iii. 527. Conferva (torulosa) filis torulosis,
simplicibus, continuis, filiformibus, &c., Roth. Cat. Bot.
111. 250. Conferva (verrucosa) anomalacea, incurva, no-
dis eminentibus, approximatis, verrucosis, Draparn. MS.
ined. Conferva (fluviatilis) filamentis simplicibus, seti-
formibus; yeniculis crassioribus, angulatis, Syst. Nat.
xiii. 11. 1392. Conferva fluviatilis var. a, Encyc. Met.
Die. No. 12. (The synonyme of Vaillant ought to he
excluded as also that in the “ Flore Française.” — Borg.)
Conferva nodosa var. a, Lam. Flor. fr. 1278. ix. Confe
rva fluviatilis nodosa, fucum cmulans. Dill. Muse,
fig. 48. t. vii. I.emania torulosa, Ag. Spec. ii. j). 6.
Conferva fi.uviatilis var. torulosa, English Botany, t.
F 4