. The elements of botany for beginners and for schools. Plants. SECTION 17.] THALLOPHYTES. 167 their decay. True as these general distinctions are, it is no less true that these orders run together in their lowest forma ; and that Alga and Fungi may be traced down into forms so low and Bimple that no clear ' can be drawn between them ; and even into tonus of which it- is uncertain whether they should he called plants or animals. It is as well to say that they are not high enough in rank to he distinctively either the one or the other. On the other hand there is a peculiar group of plants,
. The elements of botany for beginners and for schools. Plants. SECTION 17.] THALLOPHYTES. 167 their decay. True as these general distinctions are, it is no less true that these orders run together in their lowest forma ; and that Alga and Fungi may be traced down into forms so low and Bimple that no clear ' can be drawn between them ; and even into tonus of which it- is uncertain whether they should he called plants or animals. It is as well to say that they are not high enough in rank to he distinctively either the one or the other. On the other hand there is a peculiar group of plants, which in simplicity of OOmposition resemble the simpler AlgB3, while in fructification and in the arrangements of their simple cells into stem and branches I hey seem to be of a higher order, viz. : — 506. Characeae. These are aquatic herbs, of considerable size, abound- ing in ponds. The simpler kinds (Nitella) have the sicm formed of a single row of tubular cells, and at the nodes, or junction of the cells, a whorl of similar branches. Chara | Fig. 550-552) is the same, except that the cells which make up the stem and the principal branches are strength- ened by a coating of many smaller tubular cells, applied to the surface of the main or central cell. The fructifi- cation consists of a globular sporocarp of considerable size, which is spirally. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Gray, Asa, 1810-1888. New York : American Book Company
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectplants, bookyear1887
