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Nitella, collected in the vicinity of Ely, seem to be intermediate
between it and N. translucens. The suggestion thrown
out by Sir W. J . Hooker tha t our native Nitellce may be all
varieties of a single species, as our Charm are perhaps of a
second, is far from improbable.” — E . B . 2d edit.
4. N itella gracilis Ag.
Char. Stems smooth, glossy, pellucid; branches o f the whorls
compound, their segments acute; the upper ones often all
fertile. Bracteas wanting.
Chara gracilis, Eng. Bot. t. 2140. 2d edit. 1470.; Smith, i.
9 .; Hook. Crypt. P a rt 1. p. 245.; Macreight, 278. N itella
gracilis Ag. Syst. p. 125.
“ Found in boggy pools in St. Leonard’s Forest, Sussex:
in L lyn Idmel, North W a le s; and in Jersey. Pale green,
shining, very transparent. Fructification axillary in the divisions
of the branches of the upper whorls; generally one
nucule and one globule, side by side, sometimes separate, and,
according to Mr. Wilson, on different plants.
“ A small, very delicate, and elegant species, but only
doubtfully distinct from N. flexilis."— E . B. 2d edit.
6. CHAEA.
Char. P lan t more or less opaque, very brittle ; striated, often
spirally. Primary cells, excepting the ultimate ones o f the
branches which are uncovered, invested by a layer o f
secondary smaller cells, which take a spiral coxirse. Clo-
bules and nucules regularly dispersed along the whorled
branches.
1. Chara vulgaris.
Char. Stem smooth, opaque, brittle, obscurely striated. P rimary
cells o f the stems invested with about eighteen smaller
spiral cells ; those o f the branches or whorls with about h a lf
that number. Nucule bracteated. Bracts usually four,
much longer than the nucule.
Chara vulgaris, E. B. 336. 2d edit. 1471; Smith, i. 6.;
Hook. Crypt., P a rt 1. p. 246. ; Macreight, 278. ; Agardh,
Syst. Alg. p. 128.
This is the commonest species of the whole genus : It is
met Avith in ponds, ditches, and slow streams, and is usually
of a yelloAvish green hue. The stems are sometimes seven
or eight inches long. Whorls about as long as the articulations
of the stem, the upper ones alone being fertile. This
Chara, from its great abundance, has most frequently been
the subject of microscopic observation, and amply has it rewarded
the labours of investigators.
2. Chara H edwigii.
Char. Stem smooth, striated, opaque, somewhat brittle, elongated.
Branches o f the whorls subulate ; fertile ones with
many whorls o f short ramuli or hracteoe, o f which the
longest are shorter than the fru it. Nucule ovate.
Chara Hedwigii, E. B. Suppl. t. 2762. 2d edit. 1472, in
p a r t; Hook. Crypt., P a rt 1. p. 246.; Macreight, 278.
“ Met with forming dense patches at the bottom of still
pools in several parts of the kingdom. Stems much longer
and more slender than in C. vulgaris ; and the whole plant of
a bright green colour, but sometimes partially incrusted ;
rather flexible when freshly gathered : each joint appears to
be divided about the middle in consequence of the smaller
tubes, forming the wall, being articulated midAvay as well
as at the principal joints. Nucule much larger than its
accompanying globule ; about as long as, or rather longer than
the three or four apparent hracteæ Avhich accompany it.”
— E . B .
3. Chara pulchella.
Char. Stem smooth, striated, flexible. Branches o f the whorls
subulate; the fertile ones with many whorls o f short
ramuli or hracteæ, the longest o f lohich are about the length
o f the nucule. Nucule oblong.
H