FLORA

OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

CRYPTOGAMS, VOLUME 9

EDITED BY

O. A. LEISTNER

Price: R4,25 • Abroad: R5,30

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Printed by the Government Printer, Pretoria, and obtainable from the Department of Agricultural

Technical Services, Private Bag X144, Pretoria, 0001

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

REPUBLIEK VAN SUID-AFRIKA

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNICAL SERVICES

DEPARTEMENT VAN LANDBOU-TEGNIESE DIENSTE

FLORA OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

CRYPTOGAMS, VOL. 9

ISBN 0 621 04003 7

FLORA OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

which deals with the territories of

THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, TRANSKEI, LESOTHO, SWAZILAND,

SOUTH WEST AFRICA AND BOTSWANA

CRYPTOGAMS, VOLUME 9

Edited by

O. A. Leistner

Editorial Committee: B. de Winter, D. J. B. Killick and

O. A. Leistner

Botanical Research Institute,

Department of Agricultural Technical Services

1978

THE TERRITORIES DEALT WITH IN THIS FLORA

IV

CONTENTS

Page

Introduction vii

Charophyta 1

Chara I

Lamprothamnium 6

Nitella 7

Tolypella 14

Figures 16

Index 55

v

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in 2016

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INTRODUCTION

This is the first volume of a new series of the Flora of Southern Africa which is devoted

to the Cryptogams of the subcontinent. The series will be divided into 15 volumes based on

the Divisions adopted in Engler’s Syllabus der Pflanzenfamilien, ed. 12 (1954):

(8) Chlorophyta

Literature references cited often in the text are abbreviated as follows:

A. Braun, Char. Afr. . . . Braun, A. Die Characeen Afrika’s. Mber. K. preuss. Akad.

Wiss. fieri. 1867: 782-800, 873-944 (1868, separates issued 1867).

A. Braun & Nordst., Fragm. Char. . . . Braun, A. & Nordstedt, C. F. O. Fragmente

einer Monographic der Characeen. Abh. K. preuss. Akad. Wiss. Berl. 1882: 1-211,

pi. 1-7 (1883, separates issued 1882).

Ag., Syst. Alg. . . . Agardh, C.A. Systema Algarum (1824).

G. O. A. Stephens & R. D. W., MS. Char. . . . Allen, G. O., Stephens, E. L. & Wood,

R. D. An annotated key to the Nitelleae of southern Africa (with Mauritius and Mada-

gascar). (Manuscript in Bolus Herbarium). 65 pp.

J. Gr. & Stephens, New & Not. 1 . . . Groves, J. & Stephens, E. L. New and noteworthy

South African Charophyta E Trans. R. Soc. S. Afr. 13: 145-158, pi. 12-15 (1926).

J. Gr. & Stephens, New & Not. 2 . . . Groves, J. & Stephens, E. L. New and noteworthy

South African Charophyta II. Trans. R. Soc. S. Afr. 21: 271-289, pi. 13-16 (1933).

Kl. ex Willd., Genr. Char. . . . Klein cited by Willdenow, C. L. Du genre nomme Chara.

Mem. Acad. R. Berl. 1803: 79-90, pi. 1, 2 (1805).

R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1 . . . Wood, R. D. & Imahori, K. A revision of the Characeae.

Vol. 1. Monograph (by R. D. Wood). Weinheim: J. Cramer. (1965).

R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 2 . . . Wood, R. D. & Imahori, K. A revision of the Chara-

ceae. Vol. 2. Iconograph. Weinheim: J. Cramer. (1964).

The major reference herbaria for South African species are the Bolus (BOL), National

(PRE), and University of Witwatersrand (J). Abroad, the most useful collection for local

taxa is the British Museum (BM). In addition to the standard herbarium abbreviations, the

following have been devised:

(GOA) . . . Personal herbarium of G. O. Allen, now in the British Museum, London.

(D-Westv) . . . Herbarium of the University of Durban-Westville, Durban.

(NPB) . . . Natal Parks Board Herbarium, Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Mtubatuba.

(RDW) . . . Personal herbarium of R. D. Wood, University of Rhode Island, Kingston,

R.I. 02881, U.S.A.

A photolithographed index to specimens examined by the author is available from the

Librarian, Botanical Research Institute, Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0001.

(1) Bacteriophyta

(2) Cyanophyta

(3) Glaucophyta

(4) Myxophyta

(5) Euglenophyta

(6) Pyrrophyta

(7) Chrysophyta

(9) Charophyta

(10) Phaeophyta

(11) Rhodophyta

(12) Fungi

(13) Lichenes

(14) Bryophyta

(15) Pteridophyta

vn

CHAROPHYTA

This division consists of the single small class Charophyceae which comprises only one

extant family, the Characeae.

CHARACEAE

by R. D. Wood*

Seasonal, attached aquatic algal macrophytes. Thallus an axis of alternating long internodal

and short nodal cells, with whorls of laterals of limited growth (branchlets) from peripheral

cells at the nodes; branchlets in some genera subtended by single-celled processes (stipulodes).

Gametangia distinctive, the sperm released from a complex globular structure (“antheridium”,

globule) encased in (4 or) 8 shield plates; the egg enclosed in a complex structure (“oogonium”

nucule) with a jacket of 5 spirally twisted cells which have end cells forming a terminal coronula.,

Spore (oospore) is spirally ridged and germinates after a dormant period involving meiosis.

Germling from spore produces rhizoid and protonema, the vegetative plant developing from

the protonema.

A cosmopolitan family of about 6 genera and 80 species (or 395 microspecies), most of which are important

food for waterfowl. The present treatment deals with 4 genera and 24 species, closely approximating the system

adopted by Wood & Imahori (1964, 1965). (Basic taxonomic references and their abbreviations used repeatedly

in this volume are given in the Introduction).

Coronula of 5 cells in 1 tier; coronula large; branchlets undivided, with 1 -celled laterals

(bract-cells):

With or without cortication; stipulodes in 1-2 tiers, 1-2 (4) per branchlet (if 1, generally

alternate); when together, antheridium below oogonium 1. Chara

Without cortication; stipulodes in 1 tier (rarely irregular, sparse, or absent), 1 per

branchlet, opposite (1 below each branchlet), strongly decumbent; gametangia each

from a separate single peripheral cell so that, when together at a node, the relative

position (usually the antheridium above the oogonium) can vary

2. Lamprothamnium

Coronula of 10 cells in 2 tiers; coronula small; branchlets divided by either forking or

having pluricellular laterals:

Branchlets forked; rays generally verticillate; antheridia terminal at end of branchlet ray

(or at base of whorl); oogonia laterally compressed 3. Nitella

Branchlets monopodial, not furcately divided; rays bilateral, with laterals differentiated

from ad- or abaxial rays; antheridia lateral on adaxial side of branchlet node (or at

base of whorls); oospore terete, not laterally compressed 4. Tolypella

1. CHARA

Chara L., Gen. PI., ed. 3: 491 (1754); emend. Ag., Syst. Alg. xxvi (1824); emend. A. Braun

in Hooker J. Bot. Kew Gdn Misc. 1 : 195, 292 (1849); R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1 : 54 (1965).

Type species: C. tomentosa L.

Plants generally corticated (except C. braunii), with regularly spaced and developed whorls

of branchlets. Gametangia separate or joined (antheridium below oogonium), or on separate

plants (dioecious). Coronula of oogonium of 5 cells in 1 tier, large. Oospores terete, membrane

usually opaque.

A genus of some 18-20 species (or 167 microspecies), cosmopolitan in non-polar continents. Seven occur

in South Africa. Commonly in alkaline and brackish water, but several species (e.g. C. braunii and C. fibrosa)

occur in neutral and mildly acid water.

Chara is the Latin name of some unidentified plant.

* Deceased 11th October, 1977.

2

Characeae

Stipulodes essentially in 2 tiers, but may appear obscure or in 1 or 2 tiers; branchlets generally corticated at

least in part :

Axes regularly 2-corticated (1 row of secondaries between the primary cortical cells) 1. C. vulgaris

Axis 3-corticated (or 2-3-corticated due to partial overlapping):

Cortication of basal branchlet segment normal, similar to that of other segments 2. C. globularis

Cortication of basal branchlet segment different from that of other segments, discoloured or dia-

phanous 3. C. setosa

Cortication absent from basal branchlet segment 4. C. zeylanica

Stipulodes well developed, in 1 tier; branchlets generally ecorticated:

Axis ecorticate 5. C. braunii

Axis corticated :

Stipulodes 1-2 per branchlet, tapering, monoecious 6. C. fibrosa

Stipulodes 1 per branchlet, swollen and cylindrical, dioecious 7. C. ecklonii

1. Chara vulgaris L., Sp. PI. 2: 1156

(1753); R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1: 73

(1965), 2: 2-9, 12-34, 75 (1964). Type:

Sweden?, Collector? (LINN, No. 1088.3,

lecto.!).

C.foetida A. Braun in Annls Sci. nat., ser. 2, 1 : 354

(1834); A. Braun, Char. Afr. 915 (1867). Type: from

Europe.

C. contraria A. Braun ex Kiitz., Phyc. Germ. 258

(1845); A. Braun, Char. Afr. 906 (1867). Type:

Germany, Braun s.n. (L, holo.l).

Plants monoecious, usually lime in-

crusted, corticated. Axes 2-corticated, branch-

lets with or without cortication. Stipulodes in

2 tiers, obtuse. Gametangia conjoined. Oos-

pores 425-675 /x long, striae 12-15, membrane

opaque.

Cosmopolitan; widespread in hard waters,

especially of limestone regions.

This is the only South African charad with axis

regularly 2-corticated and 2 tiers of blunt stipulodes.

The forms with naked branchlets may be confused

with C. globularis (f. chrysospora or f. hereroensis) or

C. fibrosa.

Axes completely corticated:

Branchlets partly corticated; gametangia

restricted to nodes adjacent to corticated

segments (a) var. vulgaris

Branchlets nearly or entirely ecorticate; game-

tangia may occur at “free” nodes (not

adjacent to corticated segments)

(b) var. gymnophylla

Axial cortex not normal, incompletely corticated,

rudimentary (c) var. denudata

(a) var. vulgaris.

R.D.W. in Taxon 11:8 (1962); R.D.W.

& Imah., Rev. Char. 1: 78 (1965), 2: 2-9,

12-15,75 (1964). Fig. 1.

Cosmopolitan; widespread in South West Africa

Transvaal, Orange Free State, Transkei and Cape.

Vouchers: Mogg 8014; Pillans 5396 (BOL);

Stephens 94 (BOL); Wolley-Dod 3326 (BOL).

(b) var. gymnophylla (A. Braun ) Nyman,

Consp. FI. Europ., Suppl. 1: 875 (1884);

R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1 : 105 (1965), 2:

32-34 (1964). C. foetida var. gymnophylla A.

Braun in Annls Sci. nat., ser. 2, 1 : 354 (1834);

A. Braun, Char. Afr. 909 (1867). Type:

Algiers, Sehimper s.n. (PC, lecto.!). Fig. 2.

Sporadic throughout the world; scattered and

scarce in southern Africa from the northern Cape

(Griqualand West), Transvaal and Natal.

Vouchers: Breen & Wood 76-4-25-13 (NU, RDW);

Pole Evans sub PRE 1169 B; Wilman sub BOL 28813.

(c) var. denudata (A. Braun ) R.D.W. in

Taxon 11:9 (1962); R.D.W. & Imah., Rev.

Char. 1: 122, 125 (1965), 2: 28, 29 (1964).

C. denudata A. Braun in Neue Denkschr.

Schweiz. Ges. Naturw. 10: 5 (1847); A.

Braun, Char. Afr. 904 (1867) as C. dissoluta.

Type: Cape, Stormbergen, Drege 8847 (W,

lecto.!). Fig. 3.

C. dissoluta f. africana Migula, Die Char. 348,

(1891). Type: from Europe.

Rare, reported from scattered stations in southern

Africa.

Voucher: see type, above.

2. Chara globularis Thuill., FI. Env.

Paris, ed. 2: 472 (1799); R.D.W. & Imah.,

Rev. Char. 1: 162 (1965), 2: 49-69, 71-74,

76-86 (1964). Type: France, Thuillier s.n.

(LD, lecto.!; L!).

Plants monoecious or dioecious, with or

without evident lime, corticated. Axes 3-

corticated, or irregularly 2-3-corticated.

Stipulodes essentially in 2 tiers, but may be

Characea e

3

obscure, in 1, or in 2 tiers. Gametangia

conjoined or separate. Oospores 400-780 g.

long, striae 10-13.

Cosmopolitan; widespread in southern Africa,

common in, but not restricted to, coastal brackish

lagoons.

This is the only South African charad with axes

3-corticated (or intermediately 2-3-corticated), and

with corticated branchlets with basal branchlet

segment normally corticated. The forms with modified

basal branchlet segments may be confused with C.

setosa (f. pseudobrachypus). The forms with nearly

naked branchlets may be confused with C. vulgaris

var. gymnophylla or var. denudata or C. fibrosa.

Branchlets corticated :

Axial cortex regularly 3-corticated:

Stipulodes obscure (a) var. globularis

Stipulodes in at least 1 distinct tier.(b) var. virgata

Axial cortex intermediate, 2-3-corticated, usu-

ally irregularly overlapping:

Monoecious:

Bract-cells and bracteoles short, obtuse;

stipulodes obscure (a) var. globularis

Bract-cells and bracteoles long, acumi-

nate; stipulodes well developed, 2

tiers (c) var. leptosperma

Dioecious:

Bract-cells and bracteoles acute, not acu-

minate; branchlets largely naked. . . .

(b) var. virgata

Bract-cells and bracteoles acuminate;

branchlets corticated:

Dimorphic, upper fertile whorls forming

distinct heads . . . (e) var. stachymorpha

Homomorphic, whorls uniform

(d) var. kraussii

Branchlets uncorticated, or nearly so. .(b) var. virgata

(a) var. globularis.

R.D.W. in Taxon 11; 10(1962); R.D.W.

& Imah., Rev. Char. 1 : 169 (1965), 2: 49-54,

56-59 (1964).

C. globularis var. capillacea (Thuill.) Zanev. in

Blumea 4: 195 (1940). C. capillacea Thuill., FI. Env.

Paris, ed. 2: 472 (1799). Type: France, Collectorl

[Desvaux] (PC, lecto.!).

C. fragiiis Desv. in Lois., Not. PI. FI. Fr. 137

(1810); A. Braun, Char. Afr. 938 (1867). Type: from

Europe.

Cosmopolitan; widely scattered in inland streams

and lakes in southern Africa.

Monoecious:

Axial cortex regular (a) f. globularis

Axial cortex irregular (c) f. capensis

Dioecious ( b ) f. fragifera

(a) f. globularis.

R.D.W. in Taxon 11: 10 (1962); R.D.W.

& Imah., Rev. Char. 1 : 172 (1965), 2: 49, 50

(1964). Fig. 4.

Cosmopolitan; widely scattered but scarce in

inland streams and lakes in South West Africa,

Transvaal, Orange Free State, Natal, Transkei and

Cape.

Vouchers: Jacot Guillarmod 5768 (RUH); Ortendahl

596; Stephens 80 (BOL); Williamson sub PRE 1159;

Wood 76-4-4-1 (RDW, RUH).

(6) f. fragifera ( Dur .) R.D.W. in R.D.W.

& Imah., Rev. Char. 1: 177 (1965), 2: 51

(1964). C. fragifera Dur. in Bull. Soc. bot. Fr.

6: 185 (1859); A. Braun, Char. Afr. 936

(1867). Type: France, DR [=Durieu] (PC,

lecto.!). Fig. 5.

In southern coastal Europe, and a doubtful only

record for South Africa which is not verifiable.

Vouchers: Drege 8075A (no material traced;

ref.: A. Braun, Char. Afr., p. 938).

( c ) f. capensis ( Meyer ex Kiitz.) R.D.W.

in Taxon 11: 10 (1962); R.D.W. & Imah.,

Rev. Char. 1: 179 (1965), 2: 58, 59 (1964).

C. capensis Meyer ex Kiitz. in Tab. Phyc. 7:

28, pi. 71 (1857). Type: Cape, Cape of Good

Hope, Zeyher 26 (L, lecto.!). Fig. 6.

Endemic to South Africa; common and widely

scattered in inland dams, vleis, and streams, especially

in the northern Cape but also in South West Africa,

Transvaal, Orange Free State, Natal and Transkei.

Vouchers: Burkill sub PRE 2160; Doidge sub PRE

1172; Edwards sub J 14043; Moss 2519 (J); Wolley-

Dod 544 (BOL).

(b) var. virgata {Kiitz.) R.D.W. in Taxon

1 1 : 10 (1962); R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1 :

180 (1965), 2: 60-66, 80 (1964). C. virgata

Kiitz. in Flora 17: 705 (1834). Type:

Germany, Coiiectorl (L, holo.!).

Branchlets corticated (a) f. virgata

Branchlets completely or partly ecorticate:

Large plants; monoecious (6) f. chrysospora

Small plants; dioecious (c) f. hereroensis

(a) f. virgata.

R.D.W. in Taxon 11:10 (1962); R.D.W.

& Imah., Rev. Char. 1: 183 (1965), 2: 60, 61

(1964).

C. delicatula Ag., Syst. Alg. 130 (1824), nom. illeg.

Type: from Europe.

Nearly cosmopolitan, but rare in southern Africa,

the herbarium identifications unverified.

Vouchers: none seen.

4

Characeae

(. b ) f. chrysospora (/. Gr. & Stephens)

R.D.W. in Taxon 11: 10 (1962); R.D.W. &

Imah., Rev. Char. 1 : 188 (1965), 2: 64 (1964).

C. chrysospora J. Gr. & Stephens, New & Not.

1: 155 (1926). Type: Cape, Cape Flats,

Stephens 70 (BM, lecto.!; BOL!). Fig. 7.

Endemic to South Africa, rare, in South West

Africa, Orange Free State and in the western Cape in

vleis on the Cape Flats near Cape Town.

Vouchers: Stephens 63 (BOL), 70 (BOL).

(c) f. hereroensis ( Nordst .) R.D.W. in

Taxon 11: 10 (1962); R.D.W. & Imah., Rev.

Char. 1 : 188 (1965), 2: 65 (1964). C. hereroen-

sis Nordst. in Mem. Herb. Boissier 20: 2

(1900). Type: S.W.A., Grootfontein, Dinter

677 (BM ex GOA, iso.!). Fig. 8.

Endemic to South West Africa, rare.

Voucher: see type, above.

(c) var. leptosperma (A. Braun) R.D. W. in

Taxon 11:10 (1962); R.D.W. & Imah., Rev.

Char. 1: 190 (1965), 2: 67-69, 71-74 (1964).

C. leptosperma A. Braun in A. Braun &

Nordst., Fragm. Char. 184 (1882). Type:

Afghanistan, Griffith 128 (K, neo.!).

Widely scattered; known from Asia, South

America, and Africa.

f. tanyglochis ( H . & J. Gr.) R.D.W. in

Taxon 11: 10 (1962); R.D.W. & Imah., Rev.

Char. 1: 193 (1965), 2: 72 (1964). C. tany-

glochis H. & J. Gr. in J. Linn. Soc. (Bot.)

37: 286 (1906). Type: Cape, ditch near

Muizenberg Vlei, Wolley-Dod 3564 (BM,

holo.! ; BOL!).

Plants monoecious, with 2-3-corticated

axis, spine-cells obscure, stipulodes well

developed in 2 tiers. Oospores 540-600 p long,

striae 14-15, fossum ca. 45 p across. Fig. 9.

Known from central and southern Africa, from

Tanganyika, Zaire, and Rhodesia. Rare in South

Africa, scattered records for the southwest (Cape

Town area) and the north (Vryburg area) of Cape

Province.

Vouchers: Mogg 8868C; Wolley-Dod 3564 (BOL).

(d) var. kraussii (A. Braun ex Kiitz.)

R.D.W. in Taxon 11:11 (1962); R.D.W. &

Imah., Rev. Char. 1 : 196 (1965), 2: 55, 77-79

(1964). C. kraussii A. Braun ex Kiitz. in Tab.

Phyc. 7: 22(1857). C. krausii A. Braun, Char.

Afr. 931 (1867), orth. mut. Type: Cape, Cape

of Good Hope, Zeyher 14 (L, lecto.!).

Endemic to South Africa, fairly common in

brackish lagoons of the south and southwest coast.

Stipulodes obscure or rarely displaying 1 tier;

bracteoles acuminate; coronula connivent; spine-

cells obscure:

Bracteoles free from oogonium, not clasping. . . .

( a ) f. kraussii

Bracteoles adpressed to oogonium, clasping. . . .

(b) f. amplexa

Stipulodes developed, in 2 tiers; bracteoles not

acuminate; coronular lobes divergent; spine-

cells apparent (c) f. kraussiana

{a) f. kraussii.

R.D.W. in Wood & Imah., Rev. Char. 1 :

197 (1965), 2: 55, 78, 79 (1964). Fig. 10.

C. phaeochiton A. Braun, Char. Afr. 933 (1867);

J. Gr. & Stephens, New & Not. 2: 284, pi. 7 (1933).

Type: Cape, Bredasdorp, Zoetendal’s Valley, Krauss

s.n. (B ?, holo.; BM, iso.!).

Endemic to South Africa, common in rivers and

lagoons along the south and east coasts of the Cape.

Vouchers : Jacot Guillarmod, Saenger & Shaw 7084

(RUH); Muir 141 (BOL); Stephens 41 (BOL), 227

(GOA).

( b ) f. amplexa (/. Gr. & Stephens) R.D. W.

in J1 S. Afr. Bot. 43 (4): 263 (1977). C.

amplexa J. Gr. & Stephens, New & Not. 2:

283, pi. 16, fig. 5, 6 (1933). Type: Cape, Cape

Flats, Rattray C 5 (BM, ex herb. CT, lecto.!)

as var. longibracteata.

C. amplexa J. Gr. & Stephens var. brevibracteata

J. Gr. & Stephens, l.c.

Endemic to South Africa, scarce in piedmont and

coastal rivers and coastal vleis and lagoons along the

south and east coasts of the Cape Province, and in a

pan in the Transvaal near Johannesburg. Those with

long bracteoles predominate in the southwest, and

those with short bracteoles in the east and north.

Vouchers: Pocock 12920 (GRA); Rattray sub BOL

30353.

(c) f. kraussiana (J. Gr. & Stephens)

R.D.W. in Taxon 11: 11 (1962); R.D.W. &

Imah., Rev. Char. 1 : 198 (1965), 2: 77 (1964).

C. kraussiana J. Gr. & Stephens, New & Not.

2: 285, pi. 16, fig. 8 (1933). C. galioides DC.

subsp. kraussii A. Braun var. genuina A.

Braun, Char. Afr. 931 (1867). Type: Cape,

in Siimpfen der Cap'schen Ebene,” Krauss

2000 (no material traced); Cape Flats, vlei

beside Klipfontein Rd., Stephens 71 (BM,

neo.!). Fig. 11.

Endemic to South Africa, reported from tempo-

rary pools and vleis in the Cape Flats and Peninsula

regions, Cape Province.

Voucher: Stephens 71 (BM). Note: no verifiable

specimens were found in South African herbaria.

Characeae

5

(e) var. stachymorpha (Gant.) R.D.W. in

Taxon 11: 11 (1962); R.D.W. & Imah., Rev.

Char. 1: 210 (1965), 2: 85 (1964). C. stachy-

morpha Gant., Die bisher bek. oesterr. Char.

19 (1847); J. Gr. & Stephens, New & Not. 2:

282, pi. 16, fig. 1-4 (1933). Type: Natal, near

Durban, Gueinzius s.n. (no material traced);

Cape, near Milnerton, Riet Vlei, Stephens 163

(BM, neo.!, BOL). Fig. 12.

Endemic to South Africa, common in coastal

lagoons and vleis of the Cape, Transkei and Natal,

from Cape Town east and north to Durban.

In sterile state, and $ in which bracteoles and

bracts sometimes are absent, difficult to separate from

C. globularis var. kraussii.

Vouchers: Blenkiron sub J 17010; Howard-Williams

500 (BOL); Rennie sub Stephens 164 (BOL); Stephens

165 (BOL); Wotley-Dod 3563 (BOL).

3. Chara setosa Kl. ex Willd., Genr.

Char. 85 (1805); R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char.

1: 214 (1965), 2: 88-90 (1964). Type: India,

Madras, Collector? [Klein] s.n., in herb.

Willdenow (B, holo.!).

C. brachypus A. Braun in Hooker, J. Bot. Kew Gdn

Misc. 1 : 298 (1849). Type: as for C. setosa.

Plants monoecious, slightly lime incrusted,

corticated. Axes regularly 3-corticated, spine-

cells present. Stipulodes in 2 well-developed

tiers, often longer than basal branchlet

segment. Branchlets corticated; but basal

branchlet segment differing from others, and

its cortex discoloured or diaphanous. Game-

tangia conjoined. Oospores (450) 560-760 p

long, striae (9) 12-13.

In Asia, north Australia, and Africa where it is

common in Rhodesia. Rare in South Africa, recorded

from Natal and Orange Free State.

This is the only South African charad with

discoloured basal branchlet cortication and well-

developed stipulodes and spine-cells. It may be con-

fused with C. globularis (f. kraussiana or f. tanyglochis).

f. pseudobrachypus (J. Gr. & Stephens)

R.D.W. in Taxon 11:11 (1962); R.D.W. &

Imah., Rev. Char. 1:218 (1965), 2: 89 (1964).

C. pseudobrachypus J. Gr. & Stephens,

New & Not. 1: 156 (1926). Syntype: Natal,

near Umkomaas, Wood 4595b (K, lecto.!).

Differs from the type in having branch-

lets 2-3- rather than 3-corticated. May be

confused with C. globularis var. leptosperma,

but the f. pseudobrachypus has well-developed

spine-cells and stipulodes, and the latter

tend to obscure the basal branchlet segment.

Oospores 475-525 p long, striae 10-13, fossum

52 p across. Fig. 13.

Known only from Rhodesia, South West Africa

Natal and Orange Free State.

Voucher: Liitjeharms 6809.

4. Chara zeylanica Kl. ex Willd., Genr.

Char. 86 (1805); R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char.

1 : 220 (1965), 2: 91-108 (1964). Type: Ceylon,

Collector ? 508, in herb. Willdenow (B, holo. !).

C. gymnopus A. Braun, Char. Afr. 943 ( 1 867). Type :

Egypt, Sieber s.n. (W, holo.).

Plants monoecious, more or less lime

incrusted, corticated. Axes regularly 3-corti-

cated, spine-cells present. Stipulodes in 2 well-

developed tiers. Branchlets with basal branch-

let segment ecorticate. Gametangia together

(or separate). Oospores 600-900 p long,

striae 1 1-13.

In tropical and temperate North and South

America, Asia, Oceania, and northern Australia;

widespread in Africa including southern Africa where

it occurs in South West Africa, Botswana, Transvaal

(Soutpansberg) and northern Natal (Kosi Bay and

Lake Sibaya).

This is the only South African charad with corti-

cated branchlets with the basal branchlet segment

totally ecorticate.

var. diaphana ( Meyen ) R.D.W. in Taxon

11: 12 (1962); R.D.W.' & Imah., Rev. Char.

1: 243 (1965), 2: 104-107 (1964). C. armata

Meyen var. diaphana Meyen, Reise um die

Erde 2: 131 (1835). Type: Hawaiian Islands,

Meyen s.n. (L, lecto.!).

Differs from var. zeylanica in being

compact, and having fewer branchlet seg-

ments, 5-7 rather than 7-15, and fewer

corticated segments, (2) 5-6 rather than

5-13. Fig. \4.

Vouchers: Breen SP280 (RUH); McAllister s.n.,

Jan. 1964 (NU); Moll & Strey 3927 (NH); Pole Evans

sub PRE 1169; Rodin 4712 (PRE).

The southern African form typically has about 5

branchlet segments which are incurved forming

spheroid whorls. It could be designated f. africana.

5. Chara braunii C. C. Gmel., FI. Badens.

Alsat. 4 (Suppl.): 646 (1826); R.D.W. &

Imah., Rev. Char. 1: 257 (1965), 2: 109, 110

(1964). Type: Germany, Carlsruhe, Braun

s.n. (no material traced); “prope Oldenico,”

Maliverni s.n. in Braun, Rab. & Stiz. , Char.

Exs. No. 10 (NY, neo.!).

C. coronata Ziz ex Bischoff, Krypt. Gewachse, pi. 1

(1828); A. Braun, Char. Afr. 900 (1867). Type: as for

C. braunii.

Plants monoecious, generally without

lime, totally ecorticate. Stipulodes in 1 tier,

6

Characeae

spreading. Branchlets not forked, terminated

with a tiny corona of 2-5 cells Gametangia

conjoined. Oospores 420-550 p long, striae

7-9. Fig. 15.

Cosmopolitan; in southern Africa fairly common

and scattered in inland dams and streams in Botswana,

Transvaal, Natal and Cape.

This is the only South African charad which is

totally ecorticate, has spreading stipulodes (in 1 tier),

and has unforked branchlets.

Vouchers: Britten 4041 (BOL); Mauve & Schlieben

9600 (PRE); Moll & Mauve 1703a (PRE) ; Pocock

13532 (GRA); Stephens 306 (BOL).

6. Chara fibrosa Ag. ex Bruz., Observ.

in Gen. Char. 21 (1824); R.D.W. & Imah.,

Rev. Char. 1:284 (1965), 2: 125-137, 139-140,

142-150 (1964). Type: Mariana Islands,

Guam, Gaudichaud 158 (LD, lecto.!).

C. gymnopitys A. Braun in Linnaea 25: 708 (1852).

Type: Australia, Tasmania, Von Muller 24 (L, lecto.!).

Plants monoecious, generally without

lime, with axes but not the branchlets corti-

cated. Axes 2-corticated, spine-cells present.

Stipulodes in 1 well-developed tier, spreading.

Branchlets ecorticate, bract-cells large, verti-

cillate. Oospores 350-550 p long, striae 7-11.

Fig. 16.

Nearly cosmopolitan, but absent from Europe;

in southern Africa reported from Botswana and Natal.

This is the only southern African charad with

corticated axes but ecorticate branchlets, large bract-

cells and stipulodes, the stipulodes in 1 tier, and which

is monoecious. It may be confused with C. ecklonii or

possibly with gymnophyllous forms of C. globularis

and C. vulgaris.

Voucher: Smith 1397 (SRGH).

7. Chara ecklonii A. Braun ex Kiitz., Tab.

Phyc. 7: 19 (1857); R.D.W. & Imah., Rev.

Char. 1: 313 (1965), 2: 141, 153, 154 (1964).

C. dichopitys A. Braun subsp. ecklonii

(A. Braun ex Kiitz.) A. Braun, Char. Afr. 899

( 1 867). Type : Cape, Cap der Guten Hoffnung,

Ecklon & Zeyher s.n. (L, holo.! but worthless

fragments); in der Gegend der Katrivierberge;

Distr. Victoria, Ecklon & Zeyher 3 (S, iso.?!).

Plants dioecious, resembling C. fibrosa.

Axes 2-corticated, spine-cells obscure. Branch-

lets ecorticate, bract-cells large, verticillate.

Stipulodes large, in 1 tier, 1 (2) per branchlet.

Oospores ca. 630 p long, striae ca. 10.

Fig. 17: 1, 3, 5.

In southern Africa and southern Australia

(Tasmania), but the type variety is restricted to South

Africa from northern Natal, the eastern Cape (Victoria

East), and questionably from the Cape Peninsula.

This is the only southern African charad with

corticated axes but ecorticated branchlets, large

bract-cells, and large cylindrical stipulodes in 1 tier,

and which is dioecious. It may be confused with

C. fibrosa.

Vouchers: McAllister s.n., Jan. 1964 (NY) under

C. zeylanica\ Tinley 298 (NU).

2. LAMPROTHAMNIUM

Lamprothamnium /. Gr. in J. Bot., Lond. 54: 336 (1916); Olsen in K. Danske Vidensk. Selsk.,

Biol. Skr. 3: 82 (1944), as Lamprothamnion', R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1 : 327 (1965). Type

species: L. papulosum (Wallr.) J. Gr.

Lamprothamnus A. Braun in A. Braun & Nordst., Fragm. Char. 16, 100 (1882), non Hiern (1877).

Plants ecorticate, with branchlet whorls regularly spaced or alopecuroid, occasionally

lateral branches forming reduced fertile heads. Monoecious. Stipulodes in 1 tier, strongly

decumbent, opposite the branchlets. Coronula of oogonia of 5 cells in 1 tier, large. Oospores

terete, generally partly enclosed in a limeshell, membrane opaque.

A genus of 3 species (8 microspecies), widespread along coastal Europe and North Africa, India, Australia.

New Zealand, New Caledonia, Mauritius, China and South Africa where it is represented by one species,

Generally occurring in brackish water.

Lamprothamnium is a Greek compound of “shining” and “shrub” in apparent allusion to its lustrous

appearance in water.

Lamprothamnium papulosum ( Wallr .) J.

Gr. in J. Bot., Lond. 54: 337 (1916); R.D.W.

& Imah., Rev. Char. 1 : 330 (1965), 2: 162-166

(1964). Chara papulosa Wallr. in FI. Crypt.

Germ. 2: 107 (1833). Type: Sweden, “bei

Glono,” Nielsen s.n. (NY, neo.!). in Braun,

Rab. & Stiz., Char. Exs. No. 81.

C. macropogon A. Braun in Linnaea 17: 116 (1843).

Type: Australia, Preiss s.n. (LD, lecto.!).

Plants monoecious, totally ecorticate,

with strongly decumbent stipulodes; plant

robust and generally spiny in appearance.

Branchlets not forked, with bract-cells gene-

rally large. Stipulodes in 1 tier, strongly

Characeae

7

decumbent. Gametangia usually separate on

branchlet nodes, when conjoined their relative

position is variable (above, below, or beside

each other), occasionally at base of whorl.

Oospores 600-750 p long, striae 10-12.

Fig. 18.

Widespread along coastal Europe, North Africa,

Australia, New Zealand, Asia (China), and the

southern part of Africa (Rhodesia and South Africa).

In South Africa, recorded from coastal lagoons at

St. Lucia in northern Natal and from the northern,

southern and south-western Cape.

This is the only totally ecorticate southern African

charad with unforked branchlets, bract-cells, and

with the stipulodes in 1 tier, strongly decumbent, and

opposite the branchlets. It varies greatly with condi-

tions, <nd elongate examples with reduced bract-

cells and stipulodes may be confused with C. braunii,

C. corallina Kl. ex Willd. (not known from this

region), or with a robust Nitella such as N. translucens

or N. dregeana var. grandis.

Vouchers: Begg s.n., 15.5.1975 (BOL); Britten

4070 (BOL); Krapohl sub Stephens 127 (BOL);

Mauve & Wells 67; Stephens 147 (BOL).

3. NITELLA

Nitella Ag., Syst. Alg. xxvii (1824); emend. A. Braun in Neue Denkschr. Schweiz. Ges. Naturw.

10: 5 (1847); emend. Leonhardi in Lotos 13: 69 (1863); R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1 : 357

(1965). Type species; N.flexilis (L.) Ag. [sensu N. opaca (Bruz.) Ag.].

Plants ecorticate, branchlets furcate, regular or differentiated into vegetative and reduced

fertile axes {heads), with or without mucus associated with the gametangia or heads. Monoecious

or dioecious. Coronula of oogonia of 10 cells in 2 tiers, small. Oospores laterally compressed.

Membrane generally translucent, with or without surface pattern.

A genus of over 50 species (200 microspecies); cosmopolitan. Common in somewhat acid or neutral water,

though a few species occur in alkaline or brackish water.

Nitella is Latin for that which shines or glitters, in allusion to its appearance in water.

Dactyls 1-celled; cells large 1. N. knightiae

Dactyls 1- and more-celled; end cell generally reduced:

End cell cylindrical, blunt or acute-tipped 2. N. dualis

End cell conical :

Fertile dactyls 1- and 2 (3)-celIed:

Dioecious; fertile heads distinct:

Fertile heads spheroid, terminal and axillary; cells normal or turgid 5. N. dregeana

Fertile heads cone-like, terminal; cells normal 6. N. conifera

Fertile heads spheroid, axillary; cells extremely swollen 7. N. praeclara

Fertile heads obscure or small 8 . N. doidgeae

Monoecious; heads indistinct [See N. furcata (f. divaricata)]

Fertile dactyls 2- or 2-3-celled:

Branchlets in a whorl, similar:

End cell confluent, the penultimate cell tapering to the base of the end cell:

Monoecious, oospore granulate:

Dactyls 2- and 3-celled; gametangia at lowest branchlet node 11. AC. gracilis

Dactyls 2-celled; gametangia absent from lowest branchlet node 13. N . pseudo flabellata

Dioecious, oospore reticulate 4 . N. duthieae

End cell mucronate, the penultimate cell usually rounded, not tapering to the base of the end cell :

Monoecious 3. N. furcata

Dioecious 8 . N. doidgeae

Branchlets in a whorl of 2 kinds 9. N. hyalina

Fertile dactyls 3-4-more-celled :

Heads, and much of plant, enveloped in thick mucus 10. N. huillensis

Plant without (or with slight) mucus:

Branchlets 1-furcate 15. N. struthioptila

Branchlets 2-more-furcate :

Monoecious; primary ray normal 12. N. zeyheri

Dioecious; primary ray abbreviated 14. N. plumosa

8

Characeae

1. Nitella knightiae J. Gr. & Stephens,

New & Not. 2: 273, pi. 13 (1933); R.D.W. &

Imah., Rev. Char. 1: 422 (1965), 2: 201

(1964) Type: Rhodesia, Knight s.n. (BM,

lecto.!).

Plants dioecious, elongate and slender,

with fairly compact heads enveloped in

dense mucus. Sterile branchlets 1-furcate,

30-60 mm long; dactyls 1-2, 1-celled,

elongate, apiculate. Fertile branchlets 3-6 mm

long, congested into heads; dactyls 1-celled,

long acuminate, end wall very thick. Heads

numerous, 2-6 per shoot, 3—10 mm in dia-

meter, terminal or axillary, with thick mucus.

Oospores 400-525 p long, striae 7-8, mem-

brane granulate with scattered papillae.

Fig. 19.

Endemic to southern half of Africa, reported

from Kenya, Uganda, Rhodesia, and South Africa.

In South Africa, it is rare, occurring in pans and

rivers in the northeast, near Johannesburg and

Pretoria, Transvaal, and near Pietermaritzburg, Natal.

This is the only southern African charad with

1- furcate branchlets and dactyls 1-celled.

Voucher: Mauve & Schlieben 9601.

2. Nitella dualis Nordst. in T.F. Aliens

Char. Amer. 1: 48 (1888); R.D.W. & Imah.,

Rev. Char. 1: 444 (1965), 2; 212-217 (1964).

Type; Liberia, “prope Monraviam,” Coll.l

[. Askenasy ] 16, 17 (no material traced);

Burma, Maymyo, Khanna 631 (F, neo.!).

Plants monoecious (or dioecious), fairly

small, ecorticate, branchlets gracefully 2-3-

furcate, with mucus, and dactyls 2-3-celled

with cylindrical end cells. Sterile branchlets

2- 3 (4)-furcate, dactyls 2-3-celled, end cell

cylindrical and abruptly pointed. Fertile

branchlets similar to sterile, somewhat

reduced. Heads not conspicuous, enveloped

with mucus. Oospores 180-320 p long, striae

6-8, membrane reticulate, 6—1 5 meshes

across fossa.

Widely scattered in Africa and southern and

eastern Asia. In southern Africa from Botswana and

Natal.

This is the only southern African charad with

2-3-furcate branchlets, fertile portions with mucus,

and dactyl end cells cylindrical rather than conical

and short.

var. pulchella ( T . F. Allen) R.D.W. in

Taxon 11: 17 (1962); R.D.W. & Imah.,

Rev. Char. 1: 447 (1965), 2: 213-217 (1964).

N. pulchella T. F. Allen in Bull. Torrey bot.

Club 22: 69 (1895). Type: Japan, Saito 8

(NY, holo.!).

Inch f. blowiana (J. Gr.) R.D.W. in

Taxon 11: 17 (1962); R.D.W. & Imah.,

Rev. Char. 1: 451 (1965), 2: 217 (1964).

N. blowiana J. Gr. in J. Linn Soc. (Bot.)

48: 133 (1928). Type: Madagascar, Blow

M36 (BM, holo.!).

Var. pulchella differs from the type

in being monoecious and in details of the

oospore.

Widely scattered records from Asia (Burma and

Japan), Madagascar, and South Africa.

f. obtusa R.D.W. in J1 S. Afr. Bot.

43(4): 263 (1977). Type: Botswana, Linyanti

R., Stephens 327 (BM, holo.!).

Differs from f. pulchella in having uni-

formly 2-celled dactyls, and from f. blowiana

in having the dactyl end cells obtuse.

Endemic to southern Africa, reported from Bot-

swana and Natal.

Voucher: Day 3b (BOL).

3. Nitella furcata ( Roxb . ex Bruz.) Ag.,

Syst. Alg. 124 (1824); R.D.W. & Imah.,

Rev. Char. 1 : 469 (1965), 2: 224-232, 234-247,

249-259, 261-275, 277 (1964). Chara furcata

Roxb. ex Bruz., Obs. Gen. Char. 22 (1824).

Type: India, G. O. Allen s.n. (NY, neo.!).

Plants monoecious (rarely dioecious),

generally robust, whorls broadly flabellate

and 2-3 (5)-furcate, dactyls mucronate.

Sterile branchlets 2-4 (5)-furcate, dactyls

(1) 2 (3)-celled, commonly abbreviated.

Fertile branchlets similar to sterile, more or

less reduced and compacted. Heads obscure;

without mucus. Oospores 250-410 p long,

striae 6-8, membrane generally reticulate,

10-16 meshes across fossum.

Cosmopolitan.

This is the only southern African charad with

2^1-furcate branchlets, without mucus, with dactyl

normal or abbreviated and 2-3-celled, the end cell

mucronate, and oospore reticulate.

Dactyls predominantly abbreviated, (1)2 (3)-celled. .

1. subsp. furcata

Dactyls normal, 2 (3)-celled 2. subsp. mucronata

1. subsp. furcata,

R.D.W. in Taxon 11:17 (1962); R.D.W.

& Imah., Rev. Char. 1: 475 (1965), 2:

243-247, 249-253, 256-259, 261, 262 (1964).

Nearly cosmopolitan, except in Europe.

Characeae

9

Dactyls almost entirely abbreviated; upper

coronula cells elongate, 2-3 times longer than

lower; oospore fossae 54-65 p across

(a) var. furcata

Dactyls both normal and abbreviated; upper

coronula cells normal, 1-2 times longer than

lower; oospore fossae 45-56 p across

(b) var. sieberi

(a) var. furcata.

R.D.W. in Taxon 11: 17 (1962); R.D.W.

& Imah., Rev. Char. 1 : 478 (1965), 2:

243-247, 253 (1964). Fig. 20, fig. 21 : 1-4.

On the African continent known from Uganda

and Rhodesia and in southern Africa from Botswana,

South West Africa, Transvaal and Natal.

Vouchers: Barnard 33140(A) (BOL); Stephens 333

(BOL).

(b) var. sieberi (A. Braun ) R.D.W. in

R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1:485 (1965),

2: 249-252, 255-259, 261, 262 (1964). Char a

mucronata A. Braun var. sieberi A. Braun in

Flora 18: 52 (1835). Type: Mauritius, Sieber

25 (no material traced); Robillard (BM, neo.!).

Known from southern (Mediterranean) Europe,

southern and eastern Asia, North and South America,

and throughout Africa.

Oogonia aggregate; dactyls 2-3-celled; without

heads (a) f. microcarpa

Oogonia solitary or geminate; dactyls 1-2-celled;

with small heads (6) f. divaricata

(a) f. microcarpa (A. Braun) R.D.W. in

R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1: 489 (1965),

2: 250 (1964). N. microcarpa A. Braun in

Mber. K. preuss. Akad. Wiss. Berl. 1858:

357 (1858); G.O. A., Stephens & R.D.W., MS.

Char. 49. Type: Panama, Duchassaing s.n.

(no material traced); Surinam, Weigelt s.n.

(no material traced). Fig. 22.

Known from North and South America, Oceania’

Australia, and Africa (Keneya, Zambia and South

Africa). In South Africa reported from the northern

Cape, Transvaal, and Natal.

Vouchers: Breen & Wood 76-4-25-3 (NU, RDW);

Lambert & Wood 76-4-26-4 (D-Westv, RDW);

Moss 16911 (J); Obermeyer sub TRV 1974C.

( b ) f. divaricata (/. Gr. & Stephens)

R.D.W. in R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1:

496 (1965), 2: 262 (1964). N. divaricata

J. Gr. & Stephens, New & Not. 1: 149

(1926); G.O. A., Stephens & R.D.W., MS.

Char. 21. Type: Transvaal, Belfast, in pan,

Doidge sub Moss 1135b (BM, lecto.!).

Fig. 23.

Endemic to Rhodesia and southern Africa,

occurring in Botswana, Transvaal, Natal and Cape.

Vouchers: Blenkiron & Weintroub sub J 16886;

Moss 13327 (BM, J); Stephens 89B (BOL); Strey 3835.

2. subsp. mucronata (A. Braun) R.D.W.

in R.D. W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1 : 497 (1965),

2: 224-232, 234-237, 254 (1964).

Nearly cosmopolitan, and widespread in Africa

from Uganda southward and in adjacent islands.

Oogonia 1-2 at a node; secondary rays 3-4

(a) f. mucronata

Oogonia solitary ; secondary rays 5-6 . . ( b ) f. oligospira

(a) f. mucronata.

R.D.W. in Taxon 11: 17 (1962). Chara

mucronata A. Braun in Annls Sci. nat., ser.

2, 1: 351 (1834). N. mucronata (A. Braun)

Miq. in Van Hall, FI. Belg. Sept. 2: 428

(1840); G.O. A., Stephens & R.D.W., MS.

Char. 35. Type: Germany, Apoth. Jack s.n.

(NY, neo.!) as Braun, Rab. & Stiz., Char.

Exs. No. 30. Fig. 24.

Nearly cosmopolitan; in southern Africa wide-

spread in inland dams and rivers in South West

Africa, Transvaal, Orange Free State, Natal, Lesotho,

Transkei and Cape.

Vouchers: Edwards sub J 16993; Holland sub BOL

30525; Pegler 1833 (BOL); Stephens 360 (BOL).

N. gracilis (Sm.) Ag. var. africana, as reported

by A. Braun, Char. Afr. 886 (1867), belongs here.

( b ) f. oligospira (A. Braun) R.D.W. in

Taxon 11: 17 (1962); R.D.W. & Imah.,

Rev. Char. 1: 505 (1965), 2: 254 (1964).

N. oligospira A. Braun in Mber. K. preuss.

Akad. Wiss. Berl. 1858: 357 (1858);

G.O. A., Stephens & R.D.W., MS. Char. 28.

Type: Venezuela, Gollmer s.n. (B, holo.!).

Fig. 21: 5-6.

Widely distributed in southern and eastern Asia,

North and South America, Australia, and in Africa

and Madagascar. In South Africa scarce, occurring

in northern Transvaal and Natal.

Differs from f. divaricata by having pale brown

oospores which are dark brown in that form.

Voucher: Obermeyer 1807C.

4. Nitella duthieae J. Gr. & Stephens,

New & Not. 2: 277, pi. 14 (1933); R.D.W. &

Imah., Rev. Char. 1: 538 (1965), 2: 248

(1964). Type: Rhodesia, Duthie 109 (BM,

lecto.!).

Plants dioecious, of medium (or large)

size, 2-3-furcate with somewhat abbreviated

dactyls, with occasional basal oogonia, similar

to N. furcata in habit. Sterile branchlets

2-3-furcate, secondary rays 3-5 of which one

10

Characeae

is central; dactyls 2-3, 2 (3)-celled, lower cell

tapering. Fertile branchlets similar to sterile.

Heads not formed; no mucus. Gametangia at

branchlet nodes and occasionally at base of

whorl. Oospores ca. 250 p long, striae 5-7,

membrane strongly nodose reticulate, 5 (8)

meshes across fossum.

Endemic to the southern half of Africa, in spray

pools and ledges at the Victoria Falls, Rhodesia; and

reported, with some doubt, from Zululand and Uiten-

hage.

This is the only dioecious South African charad

with 2-3-furcate branchlets, no mucus, and tapering

dactyl penultimate cell.

Small plants; gametangia 1 (2) at a node; central

secondary branchlet rays occasional

(a) f. duthieae

Large plants; gametangia aggregate; central

secondary branchlet rays well developed

(b) f. grove siana

{a) f. duthieae.

Fig. 25.

In spray and mist pools, Victoria Falls, Rhodesia;

and from Zululand.

Voucher: Ward 2540 (NPB).

( b ) f. grovesiana R.D.W. in J1 S. Afr.

Bot. 43 (4): 263 (1977). Type: Cape, beside

causeway, Zwartkops R. near Uitenhage,

Stephens 344 (BM, holo.; BOL, iso.!).

Endemic to South Africa, only collected in one

series from the type locality, Uitenhage, Cape

Province.

Voucher: see type, above.

5. Nitella dregeana A. Braun ex Kiitz.,

Sp. Alg. 517 (1849); R.D.W. & Imah., Rev.

Char. 1; 697 (1965), 2: 363, 364 (1964);

G.O.A., Stephens & R.D.W., MS. Char. 17.

Type: Cape, Cape of Good Hope, Drege

s.n. (L, ? holo.!).

N. tricuspis A. Braun, Char. Afr. 878 (1867). Type:

as for A. dregeana.

Plants dioecious, small to large in size,

turgid, branchlets appearing simple with

tiny apical corona, with compact heads

without mucus. Sterile branchlets 1 (2)-

furcate, primary ray elongate; dactyls tiny, 1

(2)-celled. Fertile branchlets tiny, to 3 mm

long, 2-3 (4)-furcate, primary ray short,

secondary rays 3-6 of which 1 is central;

dactyls 1 -2-cel led. Heads compact, several

per shoot, terminal or axillary, 2-5 mm in

diameter; without mucus. Oospores chestnut

to dark brown, 200-310 p long, striae 6-7,

membrane coralloid to strongly reticulate,

8 meshes across fossum.

Endemic to the southern half of Africa; reported

from Rhodesia, South West Africa, Botswana, and

South Africa where it is widespread in inland dams

and streams.

This is the only South African charad with simple-

appearing sterile branchlets with tiny 1 (2)-celled

dactyls, and with tiny compact spherical heads

terminal or axillary and without mucus.

Dactyls 1-2-celled:

Small- to medium-sized plants; dactyls 1-2-

celled; oospores 210-240 p long. (a) f. dregeana

Robust plants; dactyls (1) 2-celled; oospores

300-310 p long (d) f. euarthra

Dactyls 1 -celled:

Medium-sized, slender plants; oospores 280-

300 p long; cell walls thin. . . .(c) f. macilenta

Robust plants; oospores 240-250 p long;

cell walls very thick ( b ) f. grandis

(o) f. dregeana.

R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1: 699

(1965), 2: 363 (1964). Fig. 26.

This is the common form of N. dregeana, and is

widespread in southern Africa in Transvaal, Natal,

Lesotho, Transkei and Cape.

Vouchers: Stephens 48, 49, 57 (BOL) ; Pocock 12917

(GRA, RUH); Young sub J 13505.

(b) f. grandis (A. Braun ex Kiitz) R.D.W.

in R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1 : 700 (1965),

2: 364 (1964). N. grandis A. Braun ex Kiitz.,

Tab. Phyc. 7: 14, pi. 37 (1857). N. tricuspis

var. grandis (A. Braun ex Kiitz.) Braun,

Char. Afr. 878 (1867). Type: Cape, Cape of

Good Hope, Ecklon s.n. (no material traced).

Fig. 27.

Reported from the south western and eastern

Cape.

Voucher: Wolley-Dod 3114 (BM, BOL).

(c) f. macilenta (A. Braun) R.D.W. in

R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1: 701 (1965).

N. tricuspis A. Braun var. macilenta A.

Braun, Char. Afr. 878 (1867). Type: Cape,

bei Klein Draakensteen zwischen dem Berg-

rivier und den Draakensteenbergen, Drege

2998a (specimen at K of N. plumosa only,

not mixed) ; bei Laggerenberg, Mund & Maire

s.n. (no material traced).

Endemic to South Africa, reported from western

Cape Province. Not verifiable.

Vouchers: none seen.

( d ) f. euarthra (A. Braun) R.D.W. in

R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1: 701 (1965).

N. tricuspis A. Braun var. euarthra A. Braun,

Char. Afr. 878 (1867). Type: Cape, zwischen

Characeae

11

Pedroskloof und Liliefontein bei den Kamies-

bergen, Nordwestkuste des Caplands, Drege

2998.6 (no material traced).

Endemic to South Africa, reported once, from

the northwest Cape. Not verifiable.

Vouchers: none seen.

6. Nitella conifera J. Gr. & Stephens , New

& Not. 2: 273, pi. 14 (1933); R.D.W. &

Imah., Rev. Char. 1 : 696 ( 1 965), 2 : 362 ( 1 964) ;

G.O.A., Stephens & R.D.W., MS. Char. 15.

Type: Cape, pool south of Mamre Rd.

station, Stephens 351 (BM, lecto.!; BOL!).

Plants dioecious, robust with long axial

and branchlet internodes, branchlets appear-

ing simple with tiny corona, heads conelike,

without mucus; very similar to N. dregeana.

Sterile branchlets to 60 mm long, 1 (2)-furcate,

primary ray comprising whole length; dactyls

tiny, 2-celled, abbreviated. Fertile branchlets

tiny, ca. 1,5 mm long, 2-3 (4)-furcate; dactyls

1-2-celled, generally abbreviated. Heads seve-

ral per shoot, terminal or axillary, cone-

shaped, 10-20 mm long, 2-4 mm in diameter;

without mucus. Oospores wine red, 425-450 p

long, striae ca. 8, membrane strongly reticu-

late, 10 meshes across fossum (appearing

papillate at 100 x). Fig. 28.

Endemic to South Africa, known only from two

localities in the Cape Town vicinity.

This is the only South African charad with simple-

appearing sterile branchlets with tiny 2-celled dactyls,

and with conelike fertile heads terminal or axillary,

without mucus.

Vouchers: Stephens 56 (BOL), 246 (BOL), 351

(BM, BOL).

7. Nitella praeclara J. Gr. & Stephens ,

New & Not. 1 : 148, pi. 12 (1926); R.D.W. &

Imah., Rev. Char. 1: 695 (1965), 2: 361

(1964); G.O.A., Stephens & R.D.W., MS.

Char. 20. Type: Cape, Vlei land beside big

dune, Klipfontein Rd., Cape Flats, Stephens

44 (BM, lecto.; BOL!).

Plants dioecious, robust, parts very

swollen and turgid, appearing very erect and

glasslike in the water, heads tiny; similar to

N. dregeana. Sterile branchlets very stout and

inflated, to 12 mm long, 1-2-furcate but

generally appearing simple with a tiny

corona; dactyls 1-2-celled, abbreviated.

Fertile branchlets tiny, 1-2 mm long, 2-3-

furcate; dactyls 1— 3-celled. Heads numerous,

tiny, 2-3 mm in diameter; without mucus.

Oospores dark brown to black, 275-320 p

long, striae 7-8, membrane coarsely reticulate,

5-9 meshes across fossum. Note: Oogonia

stipitate. Fig. 29.

Known from the southwestern Cape.

This is the only southern African charad with

branchlet (or branchlet cells) greatly swollen and

constricted at the nodes, and with sterile dactyls

1-2-celled. Remotely similar to N. dregeana f. grandis.

Vouchers: Mauve 4664 (STE); Stephens 44, 46

(BM, BOL).

8. Nitella doidgeae J. Gr. & Stephens ,

New & Not. 1 : 150, pi. 13 (1926); R.D.W. &

Imah., Rev. Char. 1: 715 (1965), 2: 260

(1964); G.O.A., Stephens & R.D.W., MS.

Char. 30. N. mucronata (A. Braun) Miq.

subsp. furcata var. microcarpa f. doidgeae

(J. Gr. & Stephens) R.D.W. in Taxon 11:18

(1962). Type: Transvaal, Belfast, Pan on Mrs.

White’s Farm, Doidge & Bottomley s.n.

[BM, lecto.!: sub BOL 30461; sub PRE

1135(C)],

Plants monoecious, medium to large in

size, branchlets gracefully 2-3-furcate; fertile

whorls somewhat smaller and enveloped

with mucus; resembling a delicate N. furcata.

Sterile branchlets to 25 (40) mm long, 2-3-

furcate, secondary rays 4-5; dactyls 2 (3)-

celled, mucronate. Fertile branchlets to 10 mm

long, 2-3 (4)-furcate; secondary rays 4-5;

dactyls 2 (3)-celled, mucronate. Heads not

formed, fertile whorls with mucus. Game-

tangia, oogonia 1-3 at a node. Oospores

brown, 275-300 p long, striae 7-8, membrane

coarsely and irregularly reticulate, 5 meshes

across fossum. Fig. 30.

Endemic to South Africa, reported from the

Transvaal (near Belfast and Pretoria) and Natal

(Durban).

This is the only monoecious South African charad

with 2-3-furcate branchlets, mucronate dactyl end

cells, mucous heads, and reticulate oospore membrane.

May be confused with N. furcata.

Vouchers: Doidge & Bottomley sub PRE 1139;

Lambert & Wood 76-4-21-1 (D-Westv, RDW);

Schweickerdt sub PRE 1152, 1153.

9. Nitella hyalina (DC.) Ag., Syst. Alg.

126 (1824); R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1:

655 (1965), 2: 349, 350 (1964); G.O.A.,

Stephens & R.D.W., MS. Char. 57. Type:

France, Desportes 77 (G, lecto.!).

Plants monoecious, of medium size,

with regular somewhat compacted whorls,

upper whorls often with mucus; most whorls

with a readily visible inner circle of smaller

12

Characeae

(accessory) branchlets. Sterile branchlets 2-15

mm long, (1) 2-3 (4)-furcate, secondary rays

4-13; dactyls 2-celled, mucronate to tapering.

Accessory branchlets in 2 tiers, one above and

one below each normal branchlet, 1-2-

furcate; absent in certain juvenile plants.

Fertile branchlets similar to sterile. Heads

not formed; the upper, fertile, more compact

whorls with slight mucus. Oospores light to

deep reddish brown, 300-350 p long, striae

6-7, membrane finely granulate. Fig. 31.

Cosmopolitan, but nowhere abundant. In

southern Africa, widely scattered through Botswana,

South West Africa, and South Africa where it is

sparse in inland dams and vleis of Transvaal, Orange

Free State, and Cape.

The only South African charad with 2-3-furcate

branchlets, with 2-celled dactyls, and with accessory

smaller branchlets forming an inner whorl within

most normal ones. If accessories are absent or reduced,

as in Oliver 3736 (STE), the species may be confused

with N. gracilis var. confervacea.

Vouchers: Mogg 8868A; Oliver 3736 (STE);

Ortendahl 593; Wilman 2898 (BOL); Young sub J

13503.

10. Nitella huillensis (A. Braun & Welw.

in A. Braun) T. F. Allen , Char. Amer. 1: 48

(1888); R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1: 714

(1965), 2; 233 (1964); G.O.A., Stephens &

R.D.W., MS. Char. 52. N. myriotricha

A. Braun ex Klitz. subsp. huillensis A. Braun

& Welw. in A. Braun, Char. Afr. 892 (1867).

N. mucronata f. huillensis (A. Braun & Welw.

in A. Braun) R.D.W. in Taxon 11:17 (1962).

Type: Angola, Welwitsch 496 (LISU, holo.!;

BM).

Plants dioecious, of moderate size,

gracefully 2-3 (4)-furcate, resembling N.

fur cat a\ upper whorls with thick mucus.

Sterile branchlets 2-3 (4)-furcate, to 20-30

mm long, secondary rays 4-5 of which 1 is

central; dactyls 2-4-celled, with 1 -2-celled

mucro, larger basal cell rounded or tapering

distally. Fertile branchlets to 10 mm long,

3 (4)-furcate, secondary rays 4-6; dactyls

2-4-celled, with 1 -2-celled mucro. Heads

not distinct; upper whorls with thick mucus.

Oospores ca. 240 p long, striae 7, membrane?.

Fig. 32.

Endemic to southern Africa, reported from

Angola and Botswana.

This is the only 2-3 (4)-furcate southern African

charad with 2-4-celled dactyls which are generally

mucronate with 1-2-celIed mucro, and which has

thick mucus.

Vouchers: Stephens 324, 330 (BM); none seen in

South African herbaria.

11. Nitella gracilis (Sm.) Ag., Syst. Alg.

125 (1824); R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1:

597 (1965), 2: 310-315, 317-320, 322, 323,

326-340 (1964). Type: Great Britain, Borrer

(BM, iso.?!).

Plants monoecious, of small to moderate

size, delicately 1-3-furcate, usually with

mucus. Sterile branchlets to 25 mm long,

1- 3-furcate, secondary rays 3-7; dactyls

2- 3 (5)-celled, penultimate cell tapering to

base of end cell. Fertile branchlets similar

to sterile, but commonly somewhat com-

pacted. Heads weakly formed, often with

some mucus. Gametangia at lower branchlet

nodes. Oospores bright yellowish to dark

brown, 235-380 p long, striae 5-7, membrane

usually finely granulate.

Cosmopolitan, but rare in southern Africa.

The only South African charad with 1-3-furcate

branchlets, with 2-3- or 2-5-celled dactyls which are

tapered (not mucronate), with fertile lowest branchlet

node, and which has slight mucus and granulate

oospore membrane. It can be confused with poor

specimens of N.furcata subsp. mucronata, N. huillensis,

and especially N. pseudoflabellata.

var. confervacea Breb., FI. Normand.,

ed. 2: 338 (1849); R.D.W. & Imah., Rev.

Char. 1: 616 (1965), 2: 313, 327, 328 (1964).

N. confervacea (Breb.) A. Braun ex Leonh.

in Lotos 13: 146 (1863); G.O.A., Stephens &

R.D.W., MS. Char. 38. Type: France,

Renov (LD, iso.!).

Plants monoecious, very small, ca.

50 mm high. Branchlets 2-3-furcate, secon-

dary rays 4-6; dactyls 2-celled. Heads

with slight mucus. Oospores yellowish to

dark brown, 225-300 p long, striae 6-8,

membrane granulate. Fig. 33.

Rare, but represented in most continents except

South America. In southern Africa it is rare in Bot-

swana and the southern Cape.

Vouchers: Ecklon 642 (BOL, apparently same as

Zeyher 642 in BM), Stephens 240D, 241 A, 325A (BM).

For Braun’s report of N. gracilis (Sm.) Ag. var.

africana A. Braun see notes under N. furcata subsp.

mucronata.

12. Nitella zeyheri A. Braun ex Ktitz.,

Tab. Phyc. 7: 15, pi. 38 (1857); A. Braun,

Char. Afr. 893 (1867); G.O.A., Stephens &

R.D.W., MS. Char. 53. N. trichotoma

subsp. zeyheri (A. Braun ex Klitz.) A. Braun

in A. Braun & Nordst., Fragm. Char. 88

(1882). TV. gracilis (Sm.) Ag. var. minuta f.

zeyheri (A. Braun ex Klitz.) R.D.W. in

Taxon 11: 20 (1962). N. gracilis (Sm.) Ag.

Characeae

13

subsp. zeyheri (A. Braun ex Kiitz.) R.D.W. in

R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1 : 629 (1965), 2:

317 (1964). Type: Cape, Cap der Guten

Hoffnung, Ecklon & Zeyher s.n. (no material

traced).

Plants monoecious, medium to robust

in size, resembling N. furcata subsp. mucro-

nata, 2-3-furcate, without distinct heads or

mucus. Sterile branchlets long and slender,

2-3-furcate, secondary rays ca. 3; dactyls

3 (4)-celled, penultimate cell tapering, end

cell conical. Fertile branchlets 1-2-furcate,

secondary rays 3-4; dactyls 3-4-celled,

tapering. Heads variable, weakly formed ;

presumably without mucus. Oospores chest-

nut, 200-210 p long, striae 7-8, membrane

coarsely and irregularly reticulate, 5-6 meshes

across fossum. Fig. 34.

Endemic to South Africa, rare but reported from

Transvaal (Pretoria), Natal and Cape (Uitenhage and

Grahamstown).

This is the only South African charad with tl)

2-3-furcate branchlets, 3^1-celled dactyls tapering

to end cell, with coarsely reticulate oospore membrane,

but without mucus.

Vouchers: Moss 11388 (J, BM), 21950 (J); Wood

76-6-27-1 (RDW, RUH).

The Moss 11388 specimen (J) has peculiar cylin-

drical end cells quite different from the other two

specimens.

13. Nitella pseudoflabellata A. Braun in

A. Braun & Nordst., Fragm. Char., 54(1882);

R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1: 560 (1965),

2: 282-301, 316, 325 (1964); G.O.A., Stephens

& R.D.W., MS. Char. 40. Type: Hong Kong,

Little Hong Kong, Wilfred 238 (K, lecto.!).

Plants monoecious, moderate to small in

size, delicately 2-3 (5)-furcate, resembling

luxuriant N. tenuissima. Sterile branchlets

2-3 (5)-furcate, secondary rays 4-8 of which

1 may be central; dactyls (1) 2 (3)-celled,

tapering gradually or sharply to conical end

cell. Fertile branchlets similar to sterile,

occasionally compacted. Gametangia usually

absent from lowest branchlet node. Heads

weakly formed; generally without mucus.

Oospores golden to dark brown, 255-360 p

long, striae 6-8, membrane generally granu-

late.

Widespread in Asia, Oceania, Australia, New

Zealand, not known from the Western Hemisphere,

and rare in Africa and Madagascar.

var. leptodactyla (J. Gr.) R.D.W. in

Taxon 11: 20 (1962); R.D.W. & imah.,

Rev. Char. 1: 582 (1965), 2: 287, 316 (1964).

N. leptodactyla J. Gr. in J. Linn. Soc. (Bot.)

46: 99, pi. 6 (1922). Type: Madagascar,

Blow 12 (BM, holo.!).

This variety differs from the type in having

2-celled dactyls and central secondary branchlet

rays.

Scattered in southern Asia (Ceylon) and Africa

(Madagascar and South Africa).

f. habrocoma {J. Gr. & Stephens) R. D. W.

in R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1 : 585 (1965),

2:316(1 964). N. habrocoma J. Gr. & Stephens,

New & Not. 2: 278, pi. 14 (1933); G.O.A.,

Stephens & R.D.W., MS. Char. 44. N. gracilis

(Sm.) Ag. var. minuta f. habrocoma (J.

Gr. & Stephens) R.D.W. in Taxon 11:

20 (1962). Type: Transvaal, in pan, Belfast,

Doidge 1135a (BM, holo.!; BOL!).

Plants monoecious, to 0,2 m high,

resembling N. tenuissima. Sterile branchlets

to 10 mm long, 2-3-furcate, secondary rays

5-7 of which 1 is central; dactyls 2-celled,

basal cell tapering. Fertile branchlets similar

to sterile. Gametangia absent from lowest

branchlet node. Heads not formed; without

mucus. Oospores warm brown, ca. 200 p

long, striae ca. 7, membrane finely granulate.

Fig. 35.

Endemic to South Africa, known only from a pan

at Belfast, Transvaal, which is apparently no longer

in existence.

This is the only South African charad with

gracefully 2-3-furcate branchlets, tapered 2-celied

dactyls, sterile lowest branchlet node, and granulate

oospore membrane. It can be confused with N.

gracilis or N. tenuissima.

Voucher: See type above.

14. Nitella plumosa A. Braun , Char. Afr.

891 (1867); J. Gr. & Stephens, New & Not.

1: 152 (1926), 2: 279, pi. 15: 6-9 (1933);

R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1 : 539 (1965), 2:

280 (1964); G.O.A., Stephens & R.D.W.,

MS. Char. 54. Type: Cape, Westspitze des

Caplands bei Klein Draakensteen, zwischen

dem Bergrivier und den Draakensteenbergen,

Drege 2998a (K, lecto. ! ; PC).

N. stephensia R.D.W. in R.D.W. & Imah., Rev.

Char. 1: 540 (1965), 2: 281 (1964), non rite publ.

Type: Cape, Cape Flats, near Wetton Road Station,

Stephens 45 (BM; BOL!).

Plants dioecious, of medium size, whorls

spheroid or spreading, often regularly iso-

lated, dactyls 3-5-celled. Sterile branchlets of

2 kinds, ca. 8 normal 3-4-furcate branchlets

and 2 irregular tiers (above and below) of

small accessory branchlets; secondary rays

14

Characeae

ca. 6 of which 1 is central; dactyls 3-4 (5)-

celled, tapering, end cell acute. Accessory

branchlets small, 1-2 (3)-furcate. Fertile

branchlets very short but similar in structure

to sterile, less furcate. Garnet angia solitary to

aggregate at lowest 2 branchlet nodes. Heads

compact, spherical, 3-5 mm in diameter;

without mucus. Oospores 225-300 p long,

striae 6-8, membrane coarsely reticulate,

5-7 meshes across fossum. Fig. 36, 37.

Endemic to South Africa, in the southwestern

Cape (Cape Flats, Hout Bay, Swellendam, and Citrus-

dal).

This is the only South African charad with

(1-2) 3-4-furcate branchlets, 3-4 (5)-celled tapering

dactyls, and small accessory branchlets at the base

of most whorls.

Vouchers'. Stephens 45, 116 (BOL).

The “unsolved problems” (Wood & Imahori,

1965: 541, par. 3) involving this species and a then

newly erected N. stephensia can be clarified on the

basis of the series of specimens at the Bolus Herbarium

(BOL). N.plumosa as defined by Braun was too lim-

ited, the type material apparently having lost the

primary branchlets and exhibiting only the accessory

and fertile branchlets (see Fig. 37). The primary

branchlets, as differentiable from accessory branchlets,

are found (BOL) slightly expressed in whorls which

appear raggedly spherical, well expressed, or in one

case, completely expanded (see Fig. 36), the state

recognised as N. stephensia R.D.W. Thus, (1) N.

plumosa A. Br. was correctly emended by J. Groves &

Stephens (J. Gr. & Stephens, New & Not. 2: 279, pi.

15: 6-9; 1933), (2) N. stephensia R.D.W. becomes a

synonym of N. plumosa A. Br. emend., (3) the type of

N. stephensia was inapplicable, as it does not match

the species concept nor figure; rather it is the state

with spheroid rather than expanded whorls, and

(4) N. plumosa A. Br. emend. J. Gr. & Steph. (=A.

stephensia R.D.W.) should be placed in Nitella sect.

Migularia on the basis of the monopodial branchlets

and Tolypella-Yike features.

15. Nitella struthioptila /. Gr. & Stephens,

New & Not. 2: 279, pi. 15 (1933); R.D.W. &

Imah., Rev. Char. 1: 709 (1965), 2: 375

(1964); G.O.A., Stephens & R.D.W., MS.

Char. 56. Type: Cape Vlei, Simpson’s Farm,

opposite Matroosberg, Stephens 169 (BM,

lecto.!).

Plants dioecious, of medium size, branch-

lets 1 -furcate with headlike cluster of acces-

sory branchlets at base of whorl, dactyls

3-4-celled. Sterile branchlets of 2 kinds, ca.

6 normally simple or 1-furcate ones, to 50 mm

long; and 1-2 tiers of very short accessory

branchlets; dactyls 3-4-celled, tapering, end

cell usually narrow conical. Accessory branch-

lets in (1) 2 whorls at base of sterile branchlets,

short and often densely compacted. Fertile

branchlets very short, 1-3 mm long, 1 -divided.

Heads numerous, dense, axillary or terminal;

without mucus. Gametangia mostly on the

accessory branchlets. Oospores golden to dark

brown, 325-375 p long, striae ca. 7, membrane

imperfectly reticulate (appearing granulate at

early stages), 4-6 meshes across fossum.

Fig. 38.

Endemic to South Africa, known only from the

Worcester area of the western Cape.

This is the only South African charad with 1-fur-

cate branchlets, 3-4-celled dactyls, and small accessory

branchlets at the base of most whorls.

Voucher: Stephens 170 (BOL).

4. TOLYPELLA

Tolypella (A. Braun ) A. Braun in Abh. K. preuss. Akad. Wiss. Berl. 1856; 338 (1857); R.D.W.

& Imah., Rev. Char. 1 : 716 (1965). Type species: T. nidifica (O. Mull.) A. Braun.

Nitella subgen. Tolypella A. Braun in Hooker, J. Bot. Kew Gdn Misc. 1 : 194 (1849).

Plants ecorticate, branchlets monopodial (sterile ones occasionally furcate), differentiated

into tiny fertile whorls in ragged but compact heads and long generally simple sterile ones.

An antheridium lateral on adaxial face of fertile branchlet nodes, generally flanked by 2 oogonia.

Generally monoecious. Coronula of oogonia of 10 cells in 2 tiers, small. Oospores terete, round

in cross section. Membrane generally smooth, opaque.

A genus of 2 distinct species (1 1 microspecies), cosmopolitan, but widely scattered. Usually in alkaline or

dilute saline waters, especially in limestone regions.

Tolypella is diminutive for the Greek “a dispute,” possibly in allusion to the many changes made before

stabilisation of this genus.

Characeae

15

Tolypella nidifica (O. Mull.) A. Braun in

Abh. K. preuss. Akad. Wiss. Berl. 1856: 344

(1857); R.D.W. & Imah., Rev. Char. 1:

721 (1965), 2: 377-386 (1964). Conferva

nidifica O. Mull, in FI. Danica 761 (1778).

Type: Sweden, Wahlstedt s.n. (NY, neo.!).

Plants generally monoecious, of medium

size, robust but ecorticate, generally gray

with lime incrustation, with ragged dense

heads at base of long simple or occasionally

furcate sterile branchlets. Sterile branchlets

6-12 in a whorl, to 38 (53) mm long, simple

or rarely 1-2 (3)-divided, end segment 2-6-

cel led, cylindrical with blunt apex. Fertile

branchlets 5-10, 2-18 mm long, 1 (2)-divided,

monopodial with an abaxial and 2 lateral

rays at the node(s). Gametangia at adaxial

face of the fertile branchlet nodes and at base

of the whorl. Heads, several per shoot, 2-12

mm in diameter, ragged, resembling bird’s

nest; without mucus. Oospores yellow to

dark brown, 225—475 p long, striae 5-8.

Widespread in Europe, Asia, Australia, New

Zealand, and Africa, but apparently absent from

South America. Known for North Africa, but in

southern Africa reported only from South Africa.

var. glomerata ( Desv . in Lois.) R.D. W. in

Taxon 1 1 : 23 (1962); R.D.W. & Imah., Rev.

Char. 1: 731 (1965), 2: 382-386 (1964).

Chara glomerata Desv. in Lois., Not. PI. FI.

Fr. 135 (1810). T. glomerata (Desv. in Lois.)

Leonh. in Lotos 13: 129 (1863); J. Gr. &

Stephens, New & Not. 1 : 152 (1926); G.O.A.,

Stephens & R.D.W., MS. Char. 58 Type:

France, Collector ? [ Desvauxl ] (PC, holo.!).

Plants monoecious, of medium size,

slender with a few small heads, with or

without evident lime incrustation. Sterile

branchlets to 50 mm long, simple. Fertile

branchlets 5-8, small, 2-10 mm long, 1-

divided, terminal ray 3-5-celled all of same

diameter, end cell allantoid. Heads 5-8 mm

in diameter, axillary. Oospores with 7-8

striae, membrane minutely granulate or

smooth. Fig. 39.

Throughout most of the species range, and in

South Africa reported from the northern, southwestern

and southern Cape.

This is the only South African charad with long,

simple branchlets, compact axillary fertile heads,

and branchlets terminated with an allantoid end cell.

Vouchers: Nieuwoudt sub Stephens 322 (BOL);

Pocock sub Stephens 93 (BOL); Stephens C40, 52,

369 (BOL).

16

Characeae

Fig. 1. — Chara vulgaris var. vulgaris. 1, apical part of branchlet showing 3-celled end segment, x 11 ; 2, young

axial cortex, unusually irregular, x 36; 3, complete branchlet consisting of 5 segments, long bracteoles

(and anterior bract-cells), unilateral bract-cells, and conjoined gametangia; end segment 2-celled, x 11;

4, oospore membrane, granulate, x 360; 5, habit, x 0,9; 6, oogonium, x 36 ; 7, axial node with 2-corticated

cortex, stipulodes in 2 tiers, and solitary globular spine-cells, x 21; 8, coronula, x 81; 9, oospore x 36

(specimen from Europe). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 2).

Characeae

17

Fig. 2. — Chara vulgaris var. gymnophylla. 1, habit, x 3,6; 2, oospore, x36; 3, variations in branchlets, the 1st

and 2nd having 2 and the last 3 segments; gametangia are solitary or conjoined, and 2 geminate antheridia

occur at the 1st node of the branchlet at extreme right, x 1 1 ; 4, branchlet node with conjoined gametangia,

including the geminate oogonia, x 36; 5, axial node with stipulodes in 2 tiers, solitary globular spine-cells,

and 2-corticated axis, x 36; 6, oospore membrane, x 600; 7, mature oogonium, x 36; 8, part of young

axis showing 2 (-3)-corticated cortex, x 81 (specimen from Europe). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 32).

18

Characeae

Fig. 3. — Chara vulgaris var. denudata. 1, axial node with stipulodes small and in 2 tiers, rudimentary 1 (-2)-

corticated axis, and rudimentary 1 -corticated branchlet, x 20; 2, oospore membrane, finely granulate,

x350; 3, oospore with basal claws, x 36; 4, habit, x 0,9; 5, axial node and branchlet with geminate

oogonia, conjoined gametangia, branchlet and imperfectly corticated axis, x 1 1 ; 6, coronula, x 36 ( Drege

8847). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 28).

Characeae

19

Fig. 4.— Chara globularis. 1, oospore, x 36; 2, branchlet, x 9; 3, habit, x 0,9; 4, apex of branchlet v 36, 5

axial node stipulodes in 2 tiers, 3-corticated axis, small spine-cells, and basal part of 3-corticated branchlets

with conjoined gametangia, x 21 ; 6, young part of axial cortex, x 36; 7, oogonium, X 45 (specimen from

Europe). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 49).

20

Characeae

Fig. 5. — Chara globularis var. globularis f. fragifera. 1, habit, x 0,9; 2, oospore, x 36; 3, coronulae, x 81 ,4,

axial node showing rudimentary stipulodes, 3-corticated axis, small globular spine-cells, and branchlet with

oogonium accompanied by bractlet, bracteole, and bract-cells, x 36; 5, antheridium with small bract-cells,

x 36; 6, bulbils, x 5,4; 7, apices of branchlets showing 1-2-celled end segment, x 81 (specimen from

Europe). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 51).

Characeae

21

Fig. 6. — Chara globularis var. globularis f. capensis. 1, coronula, x 81 ; 2, axial node, small stipulodes and spinel

cells, and 2-3-corticated cortex, x 21; 3, young axial cortex and spine-cells, x 36; 4, habit, x 0,9; 5,

node of reflexed branchlet, showing conjoined gametangia and bract-cells, x 36; 6, branchlet, unilatera-

bract-cells and bracteoles, x 3,6; 7, apex of branchlet, x 36 ( Zeyher 26). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 59).

22

Characeae

Fig. 7. — Chara globularis var. virgata f. chrysospora. 1, habit, x 0,9; 2, axial node with stipulodes in 2 tiers

(the lower row rudimentary), axis 2-3-corticated, small spine-cells, and basal part of corticated and

ecorticated branchlets, x 36; 3, axial node, with a complete branchlet, x 1 1 ; 4, branchlet node with mature

oogonium, x 36; 5, oospore membrane, x 350; 6, lower part of branchlet with stipulodes and game-

tangia, X 36; 7, oospore, x 36 (Stephens 70). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 64).

Characeae

23

Fig. 8. — Chara globularis var. virgata f. hereroensis. 1, habit, x 0,9; 2, branchlet of male plant, complete

x5,4; 3, branchlet node of female plant with oogonium (immature), unilateral bract-cells, bracteoles, and

bractlet, x 36; 4, oospore, x 36; 5, axial node, stipulodes in 2 tiers, (2-) 3-corticated axis, and rudimentary

spine-cells, x 22; 6, branchlet node of male plant, with antheridium and bract-cells, x 36; 7, young part

of axial cortex, 3 (-4)-corticated, X 81 ( Dirtier 677). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 65).

24

Characeae

Fig. 9. — Chara globularis var. leptosperma f. tanyglochis. 1, apices of bracteoles, x 81; 2, branchlet node with

mature oogonium, bracteoles, and bract-cells, x 36; 3, axial node and branchlet whorl, stipulodes, solitary

spine-cells, and 1-2-corticated axis, x 11 ; 4, habit, x 0,9; 5, apices of branchlets, 1-, 2-, and 3-celled end

segments, x 36; 6, oospore, x 36; 7, two sets of stipulodes, x 36; 8, young axial cortex, 1-2-corticated,

X 81 (Mogg 8868B). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 72).

Characeae

25

Fig. 10. — Chara globularis var. kraussii f. kraussii. 1, branchlet node of female plant showing an oogonium,

unilateral bract-cells, and small bracteoles or bractlet, x 22; 2, similar to figure 1, but with bracteoles and

bractlet well developed, X 22; 3, axial node with basal branchlet internodal cell, one rudimentary stipulode,

2-corticated axis, and small spine-cells, x 36; 4, habit of male plant, x 0,9; 5, coronula, x 36; 6, branchlet

of female plant, x 1 1 ; 7, branchlet of male plant, X 1 1 ; 8, young axial node with no stipulodes and 2 (-3)-

corticated axis, x 81 ; 9, end segments of branchlets, 1-2-celled, x 36; 10, oospore with basal claws, x 36

{Stephens 227). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 79).

26

Characeae

Fig. 11. — Chara globularis var. kraussii f. kraussiana. 1, part of branchlet of female plant, showing mature

oogonia, bracteoles, and bract-cells, x 21 ; 2, part of branchlet of male plant, showing antheridia and bract-

cells, x 21 ; 3, apices of branchlets, 1— 2-celled end segments, x 36; 4, habit of female plant, x 0,9; 5, axial

node, rudimentary stipulodes and spine-cells, and diplo-, partially triplostichous cortex, x 36; 6, branchlets

of female (left) and male (right) plants, x 5,4; 7, oospore, x 36; 8, apices of bracteoles, x 81 ; 9, young

axial cortex, showing 2-3-cortication, X 81 ( Stephens 71). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 77).

Characeae

27

Fig. 12 — Chara globularis var. stachymorpha. 1, axial node, rudimentary stipulodes, 2-corticated axis, and the

basal part of branchlets. Many small basal nodal cells seen at the base of whorl, x 32; 2, habit, x 0,9;

3, bulbil, x 3,6; 4, oospore, x32 (after J. Groves & Stephens, 1933: pi. 16). (From R.D.W. & Imah.

2: 85).

28

Characeae

Fig. 13. — Chara setosa f. pseudobrachypus. 1-3, branchlet nodes showing different kinds of cortications: 1

2-corticated, 2, 3-corticated, 3, 2-3-corticated, x 36; 4, young axial cortex, 3-corticated, x 36; 5, stipulodes

x 36; 6, habit, x 0,9; 7, axial node with branchlet showing 2-3-4-celled end segments, X 11 ; 8, oospore,

x 36; 9, apex of bracteoles, X 36; 10, oogonium with its pair of bracteoles, x 36. This had been removed

from the branchlet to differentiate bracteoles from anterior bract-cells. ( Pocock 139B). (From R.D.W. &

Imah. 2: 89).

Characeae

29

Fig. 14. — Chara zeylanica var. diaphana. 1, coronula, x 126; 2, axial node with stipulodes in 2 tiers, basal part

of branchlets, 2-corticated axis, and solitary spine-cells, x 21 ; 3, habit, x 0,9; 4, branchlet x 5,4; 5,

branchlet node with mature oogonium, x 36; 6, oospore membrane, x 360; 7, oospore, x 36 (specimen

from North America). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 105).

30

Characeae

Fig. 15— Chara braunii. 1, habit, x 0,9; 2, branchlet node with conjoined gametangia and a pair of bracteoles,

x 36; 3, axial node, stipulodes, and a complete branchlet with a solitary oogonium and a pair of geminate

oogonia, x 11; 4, branchlet node with mature oogonium, a pair of bracteoles, and bract-cells, x 36; 5,

oospore, x 36 (specimen from North America). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 110).

Characeae

31

Fig. 16.— Chara fibrosa. 1, habit, x 0,9; 2, an oogonium with pair of bracteoles, x 36; 3, axial node with stipu-

lodes in 1 tier, 2-corticated axis, and a complete branchlet bearing gametangia, x 1 1 ; 4, rather young

axis, 2 (-3)-corticated, x 36; 5, oospore, x 36; 6, younger axis, 2-3-corticated, x 81 (specimen from

North America). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 130).

32

Characeae

Fig 17 — Chara ecklonii. 1, habit, 0,9; 3, portion of axis with two branchlet whorls and one young axillary

branch, x 7,2; 5, branchlet, x 36. (Note: 2 and 4 not from southern Africa). (After Kutzing, 1857: pi. 47,

49; from R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 141).

Characfae

33

Fig. 18. — Lamprothamnium papillosum. 1, end segment, x 18; 2, coronula, x 90; 3, axial node showing stipulodes

in 1 tier. Gametangia and bracteole produced at the branchlet node and also at the base of whorl, x 1 1 ;

4, habit, x 0,9; 5 oospore membrane, x 360; 6, oogonium, x 36; 7, oospore, X 36; 8, branchlet node

with oogonium situated below antheridium; note also the bracteole, x 36 (specimen from Europe). (From

R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 162).

34

Characeae

Fig. 19. — Nitella knightiae. 1, habit, x 0,9; 2, apices of dactyls with thickened terminal cell walls, x 81; 3,

oospore, x 36; 4, oospore membrane, x 350; 5, mature oogonium, x 36; 6, axial node and branchlet

whorl from female fertile head, x 21; 7, oogonium, less mature than figure 5, x 36; 8, axial node and

branchlet whorl from male fertile head, X 21; 9, coronula, X 160 ( Knight s.n., from Rhodesia). (From

R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 201).

Characeae

35

Fig. 20. — Nitella furcata var. furcata. 1, habit, x 0,9; 2, coronulae, connivent and spreading forms, x 144;. 3

branchlet node with conjoined gametangia, x 144; 4, habit (as drawn by original author), x 0,9; 5, axia

node (at bottom of sketch) with basal oogonia, together with a fertile branchlet with 2 fertile nodes, X 5,4;

6, apices of branchlets showing variation in the 2-celled dactyls, x 36; 7, oogonium, x 30; 8, oospore,

x 60 (specimen from Burma). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 245).

36

Characeae

Fig. 21.— Nitella furcata var. furcata. 1, branchlet, x ?; 2, terminal part of branchlet, x ?; 3, oogonium, x ?;

4, end cells of dactyls, X ?. N. furcata subsp. mucronata f. oligospira. 5, apex of branchlet with abbreviated

dactyls, x ?; 6, end cells of dactyls, x ?. (Note: 7-11 not from southern Africa, 1-4 from North Africa,

5-6 from North America). (After A. Braun & Nordstedt, 1882; from R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 253-256).

Characeae

37

Fig. 22. — Nitella furcata subsp. mucronata var. sieberi f. microcarpa. 1, part of branchlet with 2-3-celled dactyls,

elongated to abbreviated dactyls, and aggregate gametangia, x ?; 2, abbreviated 2-celled dactyls, x ?;

3, elongated 2-celled dactyls, x ?; 4, axial node as seen from above, with 3^1-furcate branchlet, and a

small accessory branch produced as central ray at 1st branchlet node, x ?; 5, oogonium, x ?. (After A.

Braun & Nordstedt, 1882; from R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 250).

38

Characeae

Fig. 23. — Nitella furcata subsp. mucronata var. sieberi f. divaricata. 1, oospore membrane, x 450; 2, coronula,

x 350; 3, habit, x 0,9; 4, oospore with widely flanged striae, x 81; 5, axial node with 2-3-furcate sterile

branchlet, x 4,5; 6, axial node of a fertile head with 2-3-furcate fertile branchlet, x 36; 7, 8, variation of

end cells of 2-celled dactyls, x 81; 9, apex of branchlet with abbreviated 1-celled dactyls, x 81 ( Moss

13327). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 262).

Characeae

39

Fig. 24. — Nitella furcata subsp. mucronata f. mucronata. 1, solitary 2-celled dactyl at branchlet node (left),

and 3-celled dactyl, x 6,3; 2, axial node with 1-2-furcate sterile branchlet, x 2,7; 3, apices of dactyls

showing mucronate end cells, x 45 ; 4, conjoined gametangia at branchlet node, x 36; 5, mature oogonium

with prolongation of convoluting cells, x 81; 6, habit, x 0,9; 7, oospore membrane, x 720; 8, axial

node with (1-) 2-3-furcate fertile branchlet, and 4 secondary rays, x 9; 9, coronula, x 158; 10, oospore,

x 81 (specimen from India). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 224).

40

Characeae

Fig. 25. — Nitella duthieae. 1, habit, x 0,9; 2, axial nodes with fertile whorls, x c. 7; 3, fertile branchk

viewed from above, x c. 4; 4, oogonium, x c. 40; 5, branchlet with antheridia at 2nd node,

apices of branchlets showing elongated dactyl at left ( x c. 45) and abbreviated dactyl at right i

7, oospore membrane, x c. 450 ( Note : Oospore membrane, 7, is incorrect: it should be nodose

not beaded reticulate). (After J. Groves & Stephens, 1933; from R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 248).

:t whorl as

X c. 5; 6,

(x c. 27);

reticulate.

Characeae

41

Fig. 26. — Nitella dregeana f. dregeana. 1, habit, x 0,9; 2, part of fertile branchlet of female plant, x ?; 3, part

of fertile branchlet of male plant, x ? (after Kiitzing, 1857; from R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 363).

Fig. 27. — Nitella dregeana f. grandis. 1, habit, x 0,9; 2, terminal part of branchlet with antheridium, x 36;

3, terminal part of plant showing fertile spikelets arising amid sterile whorl, x 0,9; 4, part of fertile spikelet,

x 9 (Note: 5-12 not from southern Africa). (After Kutzing, 1857; from R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 364-366).

Characeae

43

Fig. 28. — Nitella conifera. 1, apex of sterile branchlet, x 11; 2, complete fertile branchlet, x 7,2; 3, habit,

x 0,9; 4, oospore, x 36; 5, oospore membrane, x 270 (after J. Groves & Stephens, 1933; from R.D.W. &

Imah. 2: 362).

44

Characeae

Fig. 29.— Nitella praeclara. 1, habit, x 0,9; 2, axial node with 2-3-furcate fertile male branchlet, with an

antheridium, X 21 ; 3, apex of sterile branchlet showing abbreviated dactyls, x 81; 4, part of plant showing

large sterile branchlets and small fertile head, X 3,6; 5, oospore, x 81 ; 6, oogonium, x 81; 7, reticulate

oospore membrane, x 350; 8, coronula, X 158; 9, axial node with 3-furcate branchlets and aggregate

oogonia, x 21 ( Stephens s.n., Nov. 1927; from R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 361).

Characeae

45

Fir in Nitella doidgeae. 1 habit, x 0,9; 2, 3, end cells of 2-celled dactyls, X 81 ; 4 apex of branchlet with

’ abbreviated 1 -celled dactyls, x 81 ; 5, oogonium (immature) x 36; 6, axial node with 2 3-furcate branch e ,

x 5; 7, coronula, X 350 ( Schweickerdt 1153). (From R.D.W. & Imah. ... 260).

46

Characeae

Fig. 31. — Nitella hyalina. 1, habit, x 0,9; 2, apices of dactyls, x 41 ; 3, upper and lower shield of antheridium,

x 41 ; 4, branchlet node with antheridium, x 20; 5, apex of oogonium with coronula, x 90; 6, portion of

whorl showing primary, and upper and lower accessory branchlets, x 5,4; 7, immature oospore, viewed

edgewise, x 40; 8, same as figure 7, face view, x 40; 9, oospore membrane, x 324; 10, oogonium, x 40

(after J. Groves & Bullock-Webster, 1920; from R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 349).

Characeae

47

p,r, -52 Nitella huillensis 1 habit, x 0,9; 2, 3, dactyls, 2-celled, x 81; 4, dactyl, 3-celled, ; 81; 5, dactyl,

’4-celled, x 81; 6, axial node with sterile branchlet, x 2,7; 7, branchlet node with anthendium, • 36; 8,

axial node with fertile branchlet, x 22 ( Welwitsch 496). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2. 233).

48

Characeae

Fig. 33. — Nitella gracilis var. confervacea. 1, axial node with fertile branchlet, X 22; 2, branchlet node with

antheridium, x 108; 3, branchlet node with oogonium, x 108 ; 4, oospore, x 108; 5, oospore membrane,

x 720; 6,coronula, x 350; 7, habit, x 3,6; 8, end cells of dactyle, x 350 (specimen from North America).

(From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 327).

Characeae

49

Fig 34 — Nitella zeyheri. 1, small fertile branchlet, x 0,9; 2, apex of dactyl, x ?; 3, habit,

small fertile branchlet, x ?; 5, large fertile branchlet, x 0,9 (after Kutzing, 1857). (From

2: 317).

x 0,9; 4, part of

R.D.W. & Imah.

50

Characeae

Fig. 35. — Nitella pseudoflabellata var. leptodactyla f. habrocoma. 1, branchlet node with conjoined gametangia

and 2-celled dactyls, x 27; 2, coronula, x 126; 3, habit, x 0,9; 4, oospore, x 38; 5, axial node with

2-3-furcate branchlet, elongate primary ray, and percurrent central ray, x 14; 6, oospore membrane,

x 675 (after J. Groves & Stephens, 1933). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 316).

Characeae

51

Fig. 36. — Nitella plumosa. (An unusually well-expanded form). 1, oospore membrane, x 360; 2, habit, x 0,9;

3, female branchlet, x 27; 4, male branchlet, x 27 (after J. Groves & Stephens, 1933). (From R.D.W. &

Imah. 2: 281).

52

Characeae

Fig. 37. — Nitella plumosa. (Although the lectotype, it is an unusually poor example lacking primary sterile

branchlets. Further, the monopodial branchlet structure is not well displayed). 1, axial node of male plant

showing complete branchlet, x 36; 2, branchlet apex with 1-celled dactyls forming a corona, x 81; 3,

habit, x 0,9; 4, axial node of female plant showing complete branchlet, x 36; 5, mature oospore mem-

brane, perfectly reticulate, X 350; 6, younger oospore membrane, papillate or incompletely reticulate,

x 350; 7, oospore, x 81 ; 8, coronula, X 350 ( Drege 2998a). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 280).

Characeae

53

Fig. 38. — Nitella struthioptila. 1, adaxial view of fertile branchlet of female plant showing node with 3 oogonia,

1 central, 1 abaxial, and 2 lateral rays, x 36; 2, coronula, x 158; 3, oospore membrane, x 350; 4, habit,

x 0,9; 5, oogonium, x 36; 6, oospore, x 8 1 ; 7, abaxial view of male branchlet, x 21 ; 8, antheridia gemi-

nate at branchlet node, x 21 ( Stephens 170). (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 375).

54

Characeae

Fig. 39. — Tolypella nidifica var. glomerata. (A specimen from Europe; South African forms display fewer,

smaller and less ragged heads). 1, habit, x 0,9; 2, end cells of branchlets showing variations in shape,

x 7,2; 3, oospore membrane, x 720; 4, branchlet node showing 3 mature and 1 immature oogonia, and

1 antheridium (immature), x 36; 5, oospore, x 54; 6, coronula, x 158; 7, fertile branchlet with 1 ray

node bearing 2 lateral rays and 1 abaxial ray, x 1 1 ; 8, fertile branchlet with 1 ray node bearing 1 abaxial,

1 adaxial, and 2 lateral rays; the left lateral ray has 1 ray node with 2 lateral and 1 abaxial secondary ravs,

x 11. (From R.D.W. & Imah. 2: 382)

INDEX

55

Page

Chara L 1

amplexa J. Gr. & Stephens 4

var. brevibracteata J. Gr. & Stephens .... 4

var. longibracteata J. Gr. & Stephens .... 4

armata Meyen var. diaphana Meyen 5

brachypus A. Braun 5

braunii C.C. Gmel fig. 15, 5

capensis Meyer ex Kiitz 3

capillacea Thuill 3

chrysospora J. Gr. & Stephens 4

contraria A. Braun ex Kiitz 2

corallina Kl. ex Willd.* 7

coronata Ziz ex Bischoff 5

delicatula Ag 3

denudata A. Braun 2

dichopitys A. Braun subsp. ecklonii (A. Braun

ex Kiitz.) A. Braun 6

dissoluta A. Braun 2

f. africana Migula 2

ecklonii A. Braun ex Kiitz fig. 17, 6

fibrosa Ag. ex Bruz fig. 16, 6

foetida A. Braun 2

var. gymophylla A. Braun 2

fragifera Dur 3

fragilis Desv 3

furcata Roxb. ex Bruz 8

galioides DC. subsp. kraussii A. Braun var.

genuina A. Braun 4

globularis Thuill 2

var. capillacea (Thuill.) Zanev 3

var. globularis 3

f. capensis l Meyer ex Kiitz.) R.D.W.

fig. 6, 3

f. fragifera {Dur.) R.D. W. in R.D. W. &

Imah fig. 5, 3

f. globularis fig. 4, 3

var. kraussii (A. Braun ex Kiitz.) R.D.W. . . 4

f. amplexa ( J . Gr. & Stephens) R.D.W. 4

f. kraussiana (/. Gr. & Stephens)

R.D.W fig. 11, 4

f. kraussii fig. 10, 4

var. leptosperma {A. Braun) R.D.W. .... 4

f. tanyglochis (H. & J. Gr.) R.D.W.

fig ■ 9, 4

var. stachymorpha {Gant.) R.D.W. .fig. 12, 5

var. virgata {Kiitz.) R.D.W. 3

f. chrysospora {J. Gr. & Stephens)

R.D.W. fig. 7, 4

f. hereroensis {Nordst.) R.D. W. .fig. 8, 4

f. virgata 3

glomerata Desv 15

gymnopitys A. Braun 6

gymnopus A. Braun 5

hereroensis Nordst 4

krausii A. Braun 4

kraussiana J. Gr. & Stephens 4

kraussii A. Braun ex Kiitz 4

leptosperma A. Braun in A. Braun & Nordst. . 4

macropogon A. Braun 6

mucronata A. Braun 9

var. sieberi A. Braun 9

papulosa Wallr 6

phaeochiton A. Braun 4

Page

pseudobrachypus J. Gr. & Stephens 5

setosa Kl. ex Willd 5

f. pseudobrachypus {J. Gr. & Stephens)

R.D.W. fig. 13, 5

stachymorpha Gant 5

tanyglochis H. & J. Gr 4

tomentosa L* 1

virgata Kiitz 3

vulgaris L 2

var. denudata (A. Braun) R.D.W.. .fig. 3, 2

var. gymnophylla (A. Braun) Nyman fig. 2, 2

var. vulgaris fig. 1, 2

zeylanica Kl. ex Willd 5

var. diaphana {Meyen) R.D.W.. . .fig. 14, 5

var. zeylanica* 5

CHARACEAE 1

CHAROPHYTA 1

Conferva nidifica O. Mull 15

Lamprothamnion 6

Lamprothamnium J. Gr 6

papulosum {Wallr.) J. Gr fig. 18, 6

Lamprothamnus A. Braun 6

Nitella Ag 7

subgen. Tolypella A. Braun 14

blowiana J. Gr 8

confervacea (Breb.) A. Braun ex Leonh 12

conifera/. Gr. & Stephens fig. 28, 1 1

divaricata J. Gr. & Stephens 9

doidgeae J. Gr. & Stephens fig. 30, 1 1

dregeana A. Braun ex Kiitz 10

f. dregeana 10

f. euarthra (A. Braun) R.D.W. in R.D.W.

& Imah 10

f. grandis (A. Braun ex Kiitz.) R.D.W. in

R.D.W. & Imah fig. 27, 10

f. macilenta (A. Braun) R.D. W. in R.D.W.

& Imah 10

dualis Nordst. in T.F. Allen 8

var. pulchella {T. F. Allen) R.D. W. 8

f. obtusa R.D.W. 8

duthieae/. Gr. & Stephens fig. 25, 9

f. duthieae fig. 25, 10

f. grovesiana R.D. W. 10

fiexilis {L.) Ag.* 7

furcata {Roxb. ex Bruz.) Ag 8

subsp. furcata 8

var. furcata figs. 20, 21 : 1-4, 9

var. sieberi {A. Braun) R.D.W. in

R.D.W. & Imah 9

f. divaricata {J. Gr. & Stephens)

R.D.W. in R.D.W. & Imah.

fig. 23, 9

f. microcarpa {A. Braun) R.D.W.

in R.D.W. & Imah fig. 22, 9

subsp. mucronata {A. Braun) R.D.W. in

R.D.W. & Imah 9

f. mucronata fig. 24, 9

f. oligospira (A. Braun) R.D.W.

fig. 21 : 5-6, 9

gracilis {Sm.) Ag 12

subsp. zeyheri (A. Braun ex Kiitz.) R.D.W.

in R.D.W. & Imah 12

var. africana A. Braun 9

* An asterisk signifies exotic species which are not naturalized; synonyms are in italics.

56

Page

var. confervacea Breb fig. 33, 12

var. minuta f. habrocoma (J. Gr. & Steph-

ens) R.D.W 13

var. minuta f. zeyheri (A. Braun ex Kiitz.)

R.D.W 12

grandis A. Braun ex Kiitz 10

habrocoma J. Gr. & Stephens 13

huillensis (A. Braun & Welw. in A. Braun) T. F.

Allen fig. 32, 12

hyalina (DC.) Ag fig. 31, 11

knightiae J. Gr. & Stephens fig. 19, 8

leptodactyla J. Gr 13

microcarpa A. Braun 9

mucronata (A. Braun) Miq 9

f. huillensis (A. Braun & Welw. in A.

Braun) R.D.W 12

subsp. furcata var. microcarpa f. doidgeae

(J. Gr. & Stephens) R.D.W 11

myriotricha A. Braun ex Kiitz. subsp. huillensis

A. Braun & Welw. in A. Braun 12

oligospira A. Braun 9

Page

plumosa A. Braun fig. 36, 37, 13

praeclara/. Gr. & Stephens fig. 29, 11

pseudoflabellata A. Braun in A. Braun & Nordst. 13

var. leptodactyla (J. Gr.) R.D.W. 13

f. habrocoma {J. Gr. & Stephens)

R.D.W. in R.D.W. & Imah. .fig. 35, 13

pulchella T. F. Allen 8

var. pulchella f. blowiana (J. Gr.) R.D.W. . 8

stephensia R.D.W. in R.D.W. & Imah 13

struthioptila J. Gr. &. Stephens fig. 38, 14

trichotoma subsp. zeyheri (A. Braun ex

Kiitz.) A. Braun in A. Braun & Nordst. ... 12

tricuspis A. Braun 10

var. euarthra A. Braun 10

var. grandis (A. Braun ex Kiitz.) A. Braun 10

var. macilenta A. Braun 10

zeyheri A. Braun ex Kiitz fig. 34, 12

Tolypella (A. Braun) A. Braun 14

glomerata (Desv. in Lois.) Leonh 15

nidifica ( O . Mull.) A. Braun 15

var. glomerata {Desv. in Lois.) R.D.W.

fig. 39, 15