Aberrant haplostichous cortication of Chara tomentosa - another argument for matrix keys

Abstract

A population of Chara tomentosa with haplostichous cortication was found in Sardinia (Italy). Correct identification by means of the characters used by commonkeys would be impossible, the specimens would have been regarded as C. canescens irrespective of the fact that C. tomentosa exhibit a unique character (two celled rows of branchlet cortex at the lowermost section). This note is a plea for keys allowing for identification by means of all characters in parallel instead of the commonly used hierarchical ones at least as an addition for the determination of untypical or non-fertile specimen.