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C H A R A hifpida.
Prickly Chara.
M 0 N A N D R I A Monogynia.
G en. C har. Cal. none. Cor. none. Anther a feffile.
Style none. Berry with many feeds.
S pec. C har. Prickles on the flem briftly, in clutters.
Sy n . Chara hifpida. Linn. Sy. P I. 1624. Hudf. 398.
With. 3. Relh. 345.
C. major, caulibus fpinofis. Rail Syn. 132.
W E are obliged for this fpecimen to Mr. William Skrim-
fhire of Wifbeach, who gathered it in a clay-pit near that
place. This plant varies in fize, but moll commonly re-
fembles in habit the Chara vulgaris, t. 336, differing from
that fpecies chiefly in having the flem covered more or lefs
uniformly with clutters, of fhort briftly prickles, efpecially in
the upper part, and thofe prickles are often bent downwards.
The leaves alfo bear fimilar clufters on their upper fide, with
a folitary flower accompanying each. The parts of fructification
very much agree with thofe of C. vulgaris, of which we
are inclined to think this a variety. However that may be,
both thefe plants are generally clothed with a fine earthy cruft,
exprefied in our t. 336, but the prefent fpecimen was deftitute
of it. This cruft is commonly fuppofed to belong to the plant;
but having obferved it, in fome waters, on all kinds of plants that
grow under the furface, and in others on but few kinds, or not
on any one, we conceive it to confift merely of calcareous earth
depofited from the water, the acid which had difiolved and
fufpended it having been perhaps abforbed by the plant, either
in refpiration or otherwifc. This circumftance merits farther
enquiry.