Indian Journal <strong>of</strong> Plant Sciences ISSN: 2319-3824 (Onl<strong>in</strong>e)An Onl<strong>in</strong>e International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jps.htm2013 Vol. 2 (2) April-June, pp.35-55/Nithyavathi and Balas<strong>in</strong>ghResearch Articleobserved <strong>in</strong> Nilgiris hills, Egmore, Sriperumbudur, Vandalur, Chengalput, Red Hills andGuduvancheri (Figure 11).N. opaca Agardh.Male and female plants about 25 cm long, branchlets dimorphic with sterile and fertile whorls,antheridium solitary, oogonium solitary and <strong>in</strong> pairs. Male plant was collected from S 8 andfemale plant from S 6 . Sex organs were observed dur<strong>in</strong>g northeast monsoon season (Figure 12).N. acum<strong>in</strong>ata A.Braun.Plant 25cm high, branchlets curv<strong>in</strong>g upwards, once furcated, antheridia and oogonia <strong>in</strong> group atdifferent nodes. It was collected from S 6 . Sex organs were reported dur<strong>in</strong>g the months <strong>of</strong> nonmonsoonseason. In Tamil Nadu, it was previously observed <strong>in</strong> Ootacamond and Nilgiris (Figure13).N. acum<strong>in</strong>ata var.belangeri Braun.Small plant, about 7cm long, fertile branchlets <strong>in</strong> dense heads, once furcated, antheridium andoogonium at the same junction. It was collected from S 4 and S 8 . Sex organs were observeddur<strong>in</strong>g northeast monsoon season and non-monsoon season. In India it was already observed <strong>in</strong>Bombay (Figure 14).N. flagelliformis Braun.Male plants slender, about 26cm long, branchlets 6-7 <strong>in</strong> a whorl, 4-5 times furcated, sessileantheridium at all furcations. It was collected from S 1 and S 5 . The plants produced sex organsdur<strong>in</strong>g non-monsoon season. In India it was already observed <strong>in</strong> Assam, Bejapur, Saharanpur andBombay (Figure 15).N. gracilis (J.E.Smith) C. Agardh.Male and female plants have 4-6 branchlets <strong>in</strong> each whorl, male plants stouter, antheridiumreddish, solitary, and female plants th<strong>in</strong>, 3-4 oogonia together. Both male and female plants werecollected from S 8 . In Tamil Nadu, it was previously observed <strong>in</strong> Sathyamangalam and Athanurvillages <strong>of</strong> South Arcot District (Figure16).N. batrachosperma (Reich) Braun.Plants extremely slender, 5-6 branchlets <strong>in</strong> a whorl, twice furcated; antheridium and oogonium atthe same node. It was collected from S 1 .The plants produced sex organs dur<strong>in</strong>g non-monsoonseason. In India it was already observed <strong>in</strong> Uttar Pradesh and Bombay (Figure 16).N. dictyosperma Groves.Plant moderately thick, branchlets 6 <strong>in</strong> each whorl; antheridium and oogonium together at thesecond furcation. It was collected from S 8 . Sex organs were observed dur<strong>in</strong>g southwest monsoonseason (Figure 17).N. leptodactyla Grove.Fragile plant, about 15cm long, stem 224µ thick, <strong>in</strong>ternodes 2-5 times the length <strong>of</strong> thebranchlets, 6-7 branchlets <strong>in</strong> a whorl, 2-4 times furcated, enveloped <strong>in</strong> mucus. It was collectedfrom S 8 . Sex organs were observed dur<strong>in</strong>g late southwest monsoon season. In India it waspreviously observed <strong>in</strong> Gangetic pla<strong>in</strong> (Figure18).N. furcata Agardh.Plant shows highly branch<strong>in</strong>g habit, stem thick, 757µ <strong>in</strong> diameter, 6 branchlets <strong>in</strong> a whorl,antheridium solitary, oogonium solitary and two together. It was collected from S 2 , S 4, S 6 and S 7 .Sex organs were observed dur<strong>in</strong>g the months <strong>of</strong> northeast monsoon and non-monsoon seasons. InTamil Nadu, it was previously observed <strong>in</strong> Adayar, Vandalur and Egmore (Figure19).38
Indian Journal <strong>of</strong> Plant Sciences ISSN: 2319-3824 (Onl<strong>in</strong>e)An Onl<strong>in</strong>e International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jps.htm2013 Vol. 2 (2) April-June, pp.35-55/Nithyavathi and Balas<strong>in</strong>ghResearch ArticleN. oligospira Br.Plant 16cm high, stem 684µ thick, 5-6 branchlets <strong>in</strong> a whorl 2-3 furcated, oogonium muchsmaller than the antheridium which is central <strong>in</strong> position. It was collected from S 4 , S 6 , S 7 and S 8 .A. B. C.Figure1: Chara hydropitys Reich. A- habit, B - antheridium at a node, C- oogonium at anode; a-antheridium, o-oogonium, bte-bracteole, brn - branchlet node.A. B.Figure 2: Chara flaccida Braun. A - habit, B - antheridium and oogonium at a node;a- antheridium, o-oogonium, bte- bracteole, brn – branchlet node.39