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SPIROGYRA 217
252. Spirogyra inconstans Collins 1912. Tufts College Studies.
3, p. 73; Phycoth. Bor.-Amer., No. 1768. Wittrock and
Nordstedt Algae Exsiccatae, No. 958. 1889.
Vegetative cells 28-40 /a x /-i, 70-350 with replicate end walls; (2-)
to 4 chromatophores, nearly straight, or making .5 to 1.5 turns in the
cell; conjugation scalar iform or rarely lateral; tubes formed by both
gametangia; at the time of tube formation both gametangia become
reflexed and usually the conjugation between the same pair of filaments
is limited to single, or to 2 adjoining pairs of cells; cross conjugation
is not infrequent; receptive gametangia shortened and inflated up
to 50-75 m; zygospores ellipsoid to broadly ellipsoid, 45-70 jU, x 75-140 /x;
median wall reticulate-aculeate, brown. (PI. XXXVIII, Figs. 18-20.)
United States: Illinois; Michigan; Indiana; Ohio; Massachusetts; Wash-
ington (Bodenberg Coll.).
Europe, from Sweden to Rumania.
At the time of tube formation an outer pectic ring is formed at the
junction, and at maturity there is usually an outer and an inner tube wall.
The history of the specific name of this species is a striking example of
a scientific "Comedy of Errors." In 1889 Nordstedt described and distrib-
uted specimens of this alga, as S. insignis (Hassall) Kiitzing forma. In 1899
Wille attached the name S. jallax to it, based on a variety described by
Hansgirg as S. insignis var. jallax which has smooth-walled spores, alleging
that Hansgirg had overlooked the ornamented median spore wall. In 1907
Teodoresco found an alga similar to Nordstedt's forma, and named it
S. insignis var. Nordstedtii. In 19 12 Collins described the same alga as
S. inconstans. In 1913 Borge perpetuated Wille's error. In 1915 Transeau
called attention to the discrepancy between Hansgirg's figure and descrip-
tion and those of Wille, but, following Borge's key, decided in favor of
S. jallax. In 191 8 Collins changed the name in his key to S. jallax. In 1928
Skuja renamed the species S. willei. Czurda in 1932 relegated Collins'
S. inconstans to the discard, and used the name S. willei. Collins, however,
first described the alga as a species and his specific name is therefore valid.
253. Spirogyra borysthenica Kasanofsky & Smirnoff 1913.
Oesterr. Bot. Zeitschr. 63, p. 137, PL 3.
Vegetative cells 30-40 /x x 1 80-450 /x, with replicate end walls; 2 to 4
chromatophores, straight, or making up to 2.5 turns in the cell; con-
jugation scalariform; tubes formed by both gametangia; fertile cells
inflated up to 70 /a; zygospores ellipsoid, 52-62^1 x 110-160/J.; median
spore wall with spinelike or mammaeform papillae, yellow-brown.
(PI. XXXIX, Figs. 1-3.)
United States: Michigan (Ackley Coll.); Iowa (Tiffany Coll.).
U.S.S.R., Bukovina.