15. S TA U RO CA R PU S .
Char. S p o ran g ium either square or cruciform, and lodged in
the transverse tubes.
D e r iv a tio n . From a r a v p o s , a cross, and Kapiros, fruit.
» Certain square or cruciform species of conjugating Confervoe
were doubtfully associated by Agardh with the genus
M ou q eo tia ; these species I learned long since had been separated
from it by Mr. Shuttleworth under the appropriate
o-eneric appellation of S ta u ro c a r p u s. Mr. Shnttleworth however
did not, so far as I can learn, publish his opinion of the
propriety of establishing for these curiously formed species a
distinct genus, contenting himself with communicating his
views to some of his correspondents, of whom I may name
the following as being conversant with those views : Mr.
Borrer, the W . M . 'j . Berkeley, and Mr. Ralfs Within
these few days I have been informed by Mr. Berkeley th a t
Kiitzing has proposed this genus under the term o i S ta u r o -
sp e rm um in a sketch of a work on the Algæ, inserted in the
first number of the new series of “ Lmnæa.’ No account of
the genus is given by Kiitzing, but nierely the name and an
enumeration of species belonging to it. Mr. Shuttleworth s
appellation I conceive to be much more appropriate and accurate
than tha t of Kützing, and have therefore ventured to
retain it ; for the word S ta u ro c a r p u s applies to the tructihca-
tlon generally, which is either square or cruciform, Avlnle
S ta u ro sp e rm um appears to me to specify the reproducüve
granules or zoospores themselves with which each sporangium
is filled, and which are more or less of a circular form.
Hassall, in Annals o f Nat. Hist. _
That Ao-ardh entertained a very strong suspicion th a t the
sqiiare-frurted species ought to be separated from the genii s
Mougeotia, will be apparent from the following observations
; — . -X +
“ Ceteræ species quoad fructum non satis cognitæ,^ et
postea forsan separandæ, hue tantum ob habitum retentæ.
The genus S ta u ro c a r p u s differs from M ou g eo tia in the facts
of the transference of endochrome and formation of sporangia.
Avhile from the genus Mesocarpus, hereafter to b e ' described,
it is separated by the form of the sporangium.
B u t one species of this genus is described hy B ritish writers.
I n a recent numhcr of the “ Annals ” two others were added,
and I have now the pleasure of describing three other species.
1. S t a u r o c a r p u s g l u t in o s u s Hass.
Plate X L V II . Fig. 1.
Char. Filaments o f considerable diameter, highly mucous,
bluish green. Cells six or seven times as long as hroad,
those being the longest which have conjugated. Sporidium
quadrangular, formed entirely hy the transverse tubes.
Sporangia, when perfect, somewhat oval.
Mougeotia glutinosa, Hassall, in Annals of Nat. Hist. vol.
xxii. pi. 7. fig. 1.
Hab. Hertford H e a th : A. H. H.
' This is a very distinct and fine species, occurring abundantly
In boggy pools on Hertford Heath. Not unfrequently a
jiumher of contiguous pairs of cells unite, forming arched
loops or links, separated from each other by the square
ovarium, which is the chief characteristic of the species.
2. S t a u r o c a r p u s coe r u l e s c e n s Hass.
Plate X L V I I . Fig. 2.
Clrnr. Filaments o f less diameter than those o f Staurocarpus
glutinosus. Cells usually eight or ten times as long as
hroad. Fndochrome, when recent, coerulescent; when dried,
o f a purple hue. Sporangia cruciform, large, and filled
with zoospores o f a greenish colour.
S ta u ro c a r p u s capUcinus Hassall, in Annals of Nat. Hist,
vol. xii. p. 184.
Hab. Henfield: Mr. Borrer. Tunbridge We lls: Mr.
Jenner. Penzance : Mr. Ralfs. High Beech, F s s e x :
A .H .H .
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