Chara braunii C.C. Gmelin 1826: 646

Borges, Fabio Renato & Jr, Orlando Necchi, 2017, Taxonomy and phylogeny of Chara (Charophyceae, Characeae) from Brazil with emphasis on the midwest and southeast regions, Phytotaxa 302 (2), pp. 101-121 : 107-109

Chara braunii C.C. Gmelin 1826: 646

Fig. 5–8

Plants monoecious, up to 10.1 cm high, without calcium carbonate deposition. Axes 255–649 μm in diameter; internodes 0.1–1.15 times longer than the branchlets, to 1.85 cm length; ecorticated; spine-cells none. Stipulodes in one whorl, one per branchlet, never exceeding basal branchlet segment; 120–437 μm long, 65–152 μm in diameter, acuminate. Branchlets 7–10 forming a whorl, 1.0– 2.7 cm long; intercalary segments 3–5, ecorticated, 0.1–0.6 cm long, 183–563 μm in diameter; basal segment ecorticated, 0.1–0.6 cm long, 193–782 μm in diameter; apical segment formed by 1 ecorticated cell or forming a corona with the similar subtending bract-cells, 130–508 μm long, 73–131 μm in diameter. Bract-cells (2)3–4, forming whorls, the largest ones often directed towards the thallus, 185–637 μm long, 67–145 μm in diameter, acuminate. Bracteoles 2, 465–862 μm long, 70–150 μm in diameter, smaller than the oogonia. Gametangia conjoined, at the 1 st and 2 nd nodes. Oogonia 584–995 μm long, 330–736 μm in diameter; convolutions 8–11(12); coronula 140–223 μm high, 227–344 μm wide, apex divergent. Oospores dark brown to black, 610–866 μm long, 335–489 μm wide; striae of (9)10–11 low ridges; fossae 65–106 μm across; wall granulate. Antheridia 233–450 μm in diameter, octoscutate.

Specimen examined:— BRAZIL. São Paulo: Parque dos Saltos, Municipality of Brotas, 22º17’30.001”S, 48º7’50.999”W, 9 Oct 2012, coll. O. Necchi Jr. et al.

DNA sequences:— rbc L-KY656906; mat K-KY656917.

Figures

FIGURES 5–8. Chara braunii 5. Habit. 6. Gametangia conjoined. Oogonium (red arrow) and antheridium (blue arrow). 7. Thallus and branchlets ecorticated. The black arrow indicates stipulodes in one tier. 8. Apical segment of branchlet and two bract-cells around.