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68 NOTES ON THE BRITISH CHARACE.E FOR 1887-9.
the name of X. hatracliosperma :—Forma typica, 4l-& cm. \\\g\.\,i\\e
plant from near Berlin with very dense whorls, the upper being
closely aggregated; /. maxima, a plant from Mannheim, 15 cm.
high, which is described as resembling a large lax form of N.
temdssima ; f. fallax, 8 cm. high, a lax plant almost resembling
N. fjracilis ; f. minor, from Baden, which is much like our form
and that from Sweden. The species is placed by Braun among the
'' Glceocarpa," but in our form the presence of any gelatinous
covering to the fruit is sometimes very doubtful. Dr. Nordstedt,
when identifying our plant with the Scandinavian N. hatrachospcrma,
suggests a doubt as to the correctness
one of the " Glceocarpce."
of regarding the species as
The name N. hatracliosperma is generally adopted for this species,
but it is quite untenable. Xitella batracliosperma was described by
Agardh in 1824 (Syst. Alg. p. 126) when he founded the genus,
quoting the synonym " C. batrachosperma, Dec, Thuill." Thuillier's
jjlant has since been identified by Braun as a form of his Charn
fcetida [C. vulfjaris), and, whatever plant Agardh had in view, there
is no doubt that it was not the present species. The name
Chara hatracliosperma was first used by Weiss for Batrachospcrmum
vioniliforme. Braun's action in starting a new .Y. batrachosperma
upon the foundation of Reichenbach's confused ideas, instead of
giving an entirely new name, is incomprehensible, considering the
slight grounds upon which he re-christened so many species. In
the absence of any valid name for the species, Ave are reluctantly
compelled, in accordance with the " Laws," to give it a name, and
we think we cannot do better than dedicate it to the greatest living
authority on the genus.
We are indebted to our friend Mr. J. Guardia for photomicrographs
of the surfaces of the two oospores whicli are copied on
our plate. The importance of the markings on the surface of the
oospore as a specific character has been well shown by Dr. Nordstedt
in his recent valuable paper on the subject.
N. GRACILIS, A