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

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

Chara flaccida A. Braun Localities (5): 1. Prov. Sindh: Dadu, Kumb spring, Sehwan to Bajara road, 12.10.1999; 2. Prov. Sindh: Dadu, Sehwan, Kai sulphur spring, 12.10.1999; 3. Prov. Sindh: Sanghar, Awad Bridge pond, 4.5.1998, 17.8.1999; 4. Prov. Sindh: Thatta, Hale] lake, 13.12.1999; 5. Prov. Sindh: Thatta, Kinjhar lake, 21.12.1996, 24.2.1998, 5.8.1998. References to Pakistan: None. General: Together with Chara wallichii, C. corallina and C. braunii, Chara flaccida belong to the haplostephanous species, i.e. with stipulodes in one row. Of these only C. flaccida has cortex. Monoecious. Oospores brown. Comments on studied plants: Specimens 9-15 cm high with axis diameters of 0.5-0.6 mm. Internode length up to 2 cm. Moderately to strongly encrusted with lime. Cortex diplostichous, isostichous to tylacanthous. Spine-cells scattered and solitary, acute, and normally not longer than the stem diameter, but in some specimens to 0.8 mm. One row of stipulodes, as long as 2 mm. 8-10 branchlets in each whorl, each up to 13 mm long, and 0.5-1 times the length of internodes. Branchlets of 3-4 segments, each having an end-segment of 1-2 cells. All branchlets ecorticated. The bract-cells up to 1.5 mm long and verticillate. Plants very richly fertile. Oogonia up to 0.75 mm in length, 0.35 mm wide, with 8 spiral cells. Coronula 0.1 mm long, and 0.15 mm wide. Oospores to 0.4 mm long and 0.25 mm wide, light brown to brown in colour, with 8 low ridges. Membrane finely granulated. Antheridia up to 0.35 mm in diameter. Ripe oospores are found in February-May and in October. They were not found in specimens collected in December and August. Note: ZANEVELD (1940) united three species C. benthamii A. Braun, C. gymnopytis A. Braun and C. flaccida into one species, Chara fibrosa Agardh ex Bruz. But because the specimens from Pakistan have brown oospores, which is characteristic for C. flaccida, we prefer to keep this as a distinct species (see also PAL et al. 1962). Ecology: Freshwater. Distribution: Chara flaccida is found throughout India (PAL et al. 1962). The known distribution in Pakistan is shown in Figure 7. Chara canescens Desv. et Lois, in Lois. (= Chara crinita Wallroth) Localities (4): 1. Prov. Northwest Frontier: Peshawar valley, Warsk, in pond of River Kabul above the Warsk dam, 22.10.1998; 2. Prov. Sindh: Sanghar, Tando Mitha Khan, Serin Wari, 24.3.1999; 3. Prov. Sindh: Sanghar, Tando Mitha Khan, Jati pond, 20.1.1998; 4. Prov. Sindh: Sanghar: Garhar Bridge pond, beside Khipro canal, 22.5.1996.