The genus Coleochaete Breb. (in Ann. Sci. Nat., ser. 3, 1: 29. 1844), nom. cons., comprising roughly 15 species, is found in clean freshwater lakes and ponds worldwide. The genus is becoming the subject of many studies, particularly because this and other members of the Coleochaetales and Charales are considered key elements in the evolution of early land plants (Karol & al. in Science 294: 2351-2353. 2001). Members of both orders have been investigated by a number of researchers, all of whom have used a consistent nomenclature based to a significant degree on their exchange of cultures and genetic material. Though effort has been made to clarify the nomenclature of many of the earliest names in Coleochaete (Szymanska in Taxon 39: 572-575. 1990; Szymanska & Spalik in Arch. Hydrobiol. 98 (Suppl.): 29-37. 1993), the names applied to two widely studied species remain particularly at risk while that of a third has been questioned. Given the body of literature containing the names Coleochaete soluta (Rabenhorst, Fl. Eur. Alg. 3(2): 389. 1868; Wolle, Fresh-water Alg.: 64. 1887; Wildeman, Fl. Alg.: 22. 1896; G. S. West, Algae: 315. 1916; Graham in Amer. J. Bot. 69: 447-454. 1982; Graham & Wilcox in Amer. J. Bot. 70: 113-120. 1983; Graham & Wilcox, Algae: 525. 2000), C. orbicularis (e.g., Rabenhorst, I.c.: 390. 1868; Wolle, l.c.: 64. 1887; Wildeman, l.c.: 20. 1896; G. S. West, l.c.: 315. 1916; Islam in Bangladesh J. Bot. 3: 35-43. 1974; Graham in Amer. J. Bot. 69: 447-454. 1982; Graham & Wilcox in Amer. J. Bot. 70: 113-120. 1983; Delwiche, Graham, & Thompson in Science 245: 399-401. 1989; Graham, Delwiche & Mishler in Adv. Bryol. 4: 213-244. 1991; Kenrick & Crane, Origin Diversif. Land PI.: 30. 1997; Graham & Wilcox, Algae: 535. 2000), and C. nitellarum (G. M. Smith, Fresh-waterAlg. U.S.: 410. 1933; Chapman & al., Molec. Syst. P1. 2: 530. 1998; Nishiyama & Kato in Molec. Biol. Evol. 16: 1027-1036. 1999; Graham & Wilcox, Algae: 535. 2000; Cimino & Delwiche in J. Phycol. 38: 1213-1221. 2002), changes in the application of these names would only result in unnecessary nomenclatural confusion. Therefore, our effort here is to ensure the maintenance of these three names in current