and lakes, and many are found on moist ground and on dripping rocks. Aside from these, all the plants commonly known as seaweeds belong to this category; these latter are inhabitants of salt water.
The simplest forms of algæ consist of a single spherical cell, which multiplies by repeated division or fission. Many of the forms found in fresh water are filamentous, i.e. the plant body consists of long threads, either simple or branched. Such a plant body is termed a thallus. This term applies to the vegetative body of all plants that are not differentiated into stem and leaves. Such plants are known as thallophytes (p. 181). All algæ contain chlorophyll, and are able to assimilate carbon dioxid from the air. This distinguishes them from the fungi.
Nostoc.—On wet rocks and damp soil dark, semitransparent irregular or spherical gelatinous masses about the size of a pea are often found. These consist of a colony of contorted filamentous algæ embedded in the jelly-like mass. The chain of cells in the filament is necklace-like. Each cell is homogeneous, without apparent nucleus, and blue-green in color, except one cell which is larger and clearer than the rest. The plant therefore belongs to the group of blue-green algæ. The jelly probably serves to maintain a more even moisture and to provide mechanical protection. Multiplication is wholly by the breaking up of the threads. Occasionally certain cells of the filament thicken to become resting-spores, but no other spore formation occurs.
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Fig. 264.—Filament of Oscillatoria, showing one dead cell where the strand will break.
Oscillatoria.—The blue-green coatings
found on damp soil and in water frequently
show under the microscope the presence of
filamentous algæ composed of many short
homogeneous cells (Fig. 264). If watched
closely, some filaments will be seen to wave
back and forth slowly, showing a peculiar power
of movement characteristic of this plant.
Multiplication is by the breaking up of the
threads. There is no true spore formation.
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Fig. 265.—Strand of Spirogyra, showing the chlorophyll bands. There is a nucleus at a. How many cells, or parts of cells, are shown in this figure?
Spirogyra.—One of the most common forms
of the green algæ is spirogyra (Fig. 265). This
