Chara2 (kara)

The name of the southernmost of the two hounds in the constellation Canes Venatic i. char-à-bancs(shärä-bon'), n. [ F.char à-bancs: char, a car; à, with; bancs, benches: see carl, bank1, and bench. A long and light vehicle furnished with transverse seats, and generally open at the sides or inclosed with curtains. Some Chara fatida . times charabanc. We were met by a sort of char - a - bancs, or American wagon, with three seats, one behind the other, all facing the horses. Lady Bra ey , Voyage of Sunbeam, I. xiv. Characeæ (kā-rā'sē-ē), n. pl. [NL., The antheridia are spherical bodies composed externally of eight triangular shield-shaped segments, inclosing a great number of filaments. In each joint or cell of the latter is produced one antherozoid coiled spirally. The carpogonium consists of a central cell which, after fertilization, becomes the fruit and is inclosed by 5 cells twisted spirally around it. The species are usually grouped in two families, each containing two genera. In the Cha reæ, represented by Chara, the stem and leaves are sometimes covered with a cortical layer of cells and are sometimes naked. The leaves are in whorls of from 6 to 12, and the leaflets are always one-celled. In Nitelleæ, represented by Nitella, the stems are never corticated, and the leaflets are in whorls of from 5 to 8, and often more than one celled. The circulation of the protoplasm is easily observed in the cells of many Characeæ. Several species are incrusted with lime and are very brittle. char a ceo us (kā-rā'shius), a. In bot., belonging to or resembling the Characeæ. characin (kar'a-sin), n. A fish of the family Characinidæ.