B. Papp szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 32. 2001 (Budapest, 2001)

Langangen, A.; Leghari, S. M.: Some charophytes (Charales) from Pakistan

Chara corallina Klein ex Willd. Locality (1): Prov. Sindh: Sanghar, near Bakar lake, 5.2.1998. References to Pakistan: FARIDI (1955), PAL et al. (1962). General: Similar to C. wallichii, but monoecious. Gametangia both at base of whorls and at branchlet nodes. Comments on studied plants: The examined specimens are new shoots up to 7 cm high from old plants and are slightly encrusted. Stipulodes few and poorly developed, in one row, short, acute and to 0.4 mm long. In each whorl up to 6 branchlets up to 17 mm long, and with 2-3 segments. End-cell short, acute, mucronate, and 0.25 mm long. Bract-cells short and acute. Specimens richly fertile. Oogonia up to 1 mm long and 0.75 mm wide. Oospores black, 0.75 mm long and 0.55 mm wide. Antheridia 0.6 mm in diameter. Gametangia on basal nodia both outside and inside of these, often very numerous. Gametangia also on the first and second nodes of branchlets. Ecology: Freshwater. Distribution: Chara corallina is found scattered from Sri Lanka through India to Pakistan (FARIDI 1955, PAL et al. 1962). Our records correspond with other findings in Pakistan (FARIDI 1955). The known distribution in Pakistan can be seen in Figure 6. Chara braunii Gmelin Localities (3): 1. Prov. Karakoram (Kashmir, India), Nagar Village (altitude 2300 m), 10.9.1960, leg.: O. Polunin (BG); 2. Prov. Northwest Frontier: Swat valley, Khuza Khela Swat, paddy field, 23.10.1998; 3. Prov. Northwest Frontier: Swat valley, River Swat near Mangora, side water 23.10.1998. References to Pakistan: FARIDI (1955), PAL et al. (1962). General: Monoecious. Totally ecorticated species. Stipulodes in one ring. Differs from Chara corallina mostly by not having gametangia at base of whorls. The end-cell and the surrounding bract-cells form a characteristic corona. Comments on studied plants: The examined specimens were morphologically typical, and richly fertile, but no ripe oospores were observed. Ecology: Freshwater. Distribution: Chara braunii is a cosmopolitan species (WOOD and IMAHORI 1965). It is found scattered both in India and Pakistan (FARIDI 1955, PAL et al. 1962). The known distribution in Pakistan can be seen in Figure 7.