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XXXVII. LICHEXES * L.
(By B r . T homas T aylor and J. D. I I ooker.)
1. USNEA, Adi.
\ . U s x e a p lìm ta , A d i., Sgn. L ie i. p. 305. Ungi. Bot. t, 257. Seimrer L ie i, lie to , no. 401.
Var. 3, Urta, Adi. 1. c. Selioerer, no. 399.
H a b . Lord Auckland’s group aud CampbeU’s Is lan d ; b o th varieties, abundant.
The variety 3, hi Lord Auckland’s group, is eiddently the original plant, from which the V. Urla varies, and
both are midoubtedly forms of U. florida ; the latter, in its ordinarj- fruiting state, does not attain a high northern or
southern latitude, being replaced by the Ü. melaxantlia, which almost reaches the limits of Antarctic vegetation.
We have little hesitation in affli-ming (with the author of the British Flora) that not only all the Enghsh species
of Vmiea ai-e different aspects of one plant ; but also that it is the only iiidiindual of the genus which we know to
inhabit the temperate and warm parts of the globe.
2. UsYEA barbata, Ach., Sga. Lich. p. 306.
Var. 3, sulphurea ; pahide straminea v. sulpliurea.
H a b . Lord Auckland’s group and CampbeU’s Is lan d ; th e var. 3 o iü y , b u t abundant.
This differs fi-om the European plant in no respect but its pale sulphur or lemon colom- ; it is plentifid tlu-ough-
out Tasmania, Euegia, and the Ealkland Islands, and is decidedly a state of U. Urta ß, hardly distinguishable from
U. Urta itself, as the most casual observation in these islands -will prove. I t is often detached from its original place
of gi-owth, and, being carried by the winds over the hairen hiUs, is found in gi-eat abundance, sticking to low
bushes aud even to the rigid shrubby thallus of U. radaxantlia, in Euegia and the Falklands. Some of the slenderest
states are with difficulty to be dism-immated from the genus Cornicularia, the filaments being brittle and the central
thread not very apparent.
2. EAMALIXA, Ach.
1. R a m a u n a inflata, Hook. fil. et Tayl.; thallo in cæspitem orbicularem congesto palHde flavo v. albido
dichotome ramoso fistuloso turgido snbmembranaceo intus vacuo, lobis fistulosis intus stuppeis nunc fora-
minulosis ultimis acuminatis, apotheciis substipitatis concaris, disco concolore pruinoso, margine inflexo
integerrimo. Cetraria inflata, nohis, in Hook. Lond. Journ. o f Bot. vol. iii. p. 646. (T a b . LX X IX . Rig. I.)
H a b . Lord Auckland’s gro u p ; on rocks near th e sea.
Flanta cæspitosa, albida, siccitate rigidiuscula, madore flaccida, membranacea, peUucida, bmnneo picta. Thallus
e basì subscutata ramosissima, 1-2-unciaUs, cavus, inflatus, paulo compressus ; ramis erectis, sub 3-4 lin. latis, fistulosis,
sublacunosis, raro pertusis, intus vacuis v. parce stuppeis, extus lævibus, ramulis alternis angustatis. Apothecia
lateralia v. terminalia, oblique inserta, stipite brevi ; disco planiusculo, sub 3 lin. lato, concolori v. fusco-prainoso ;
* In arranging these species of a most variable Order of plants, tbe Synopsk of Acharius is foUowed, because it
appears to us the more natm-al. That the precise plant referaed to, under his name, may lie the better understood,
we have cited two works, which seem particiüarly worthy of attention, from the discrimination which the authors
have shewn in selecting a variety of forms ; these are the ‘ Lichenes Helveticæ ’ of M. Schærer, and the ‘ Stirpes
Crj-ptogamicæ Toges. Rhénan.’ of Jlougeot and Nestler.
; u r i
I.
exeipulo tliallode crassiusculo; mai’gine integerrimo, primum inflexo; sports 4-8 in quoque asco, oblongis, utrmque
obtusis, linca transversa medio notatis.
Mr. Churchill Babington has pointed out to us the affinity of this species with the R.pusUla, Prev. (Fries, Lich.
Eur. p. 29), a native of the Isles Hycres iu the Mediterranean Sea. Of this plant we possess no specimens, and
from the description the only points of difference seem to lie in the gi-eater size of the present, wliich has the apothecia
more separated from the thaUus and are plane instead of concave. I t is also a native of Tasmania.
The R. geniculata, nob. (in Lond. Joura. of Bot.), is allied to the present species in its fistulöse thallus, but is
much smaller and very differently branched. A third congener, or perhaps the true R. pusilla, is a native of Tasmania.
Tlie other species inhabiting tbe southern regions, are R. ovata, verrucosa, and terehrata, all allied to, and
perhaps varieties of, R. seopuloruni itself, in many cases almost undistinguishable from R.fraxinea Q.nHfasti<jiata.
P late LXXIX. Fig. 1, a specimen of tbe natural size; 2, an older state of the same; 3, portion of ramulus and
apotlieciiira; 4, section of apotliecium; 5, portion of lamina proligera; 6, ascus; 7, spores:—more or less magnijied.
S. SPPL'EROPHORON, Ad i.
1. SpH/EROPHoron tenerum, Laurer, in Linncea, vol. ii. p. 45. t. 1. f. 4. S. australe, nobis, in Hook.
Lond. Jonrn. o f Bo t. vol. iii. p. 654.
Yar. /3, cu rtum ; S. cui-tum, nobis, in Lond. -Joum. o f B o t. vol. iii. p. 654.
H a b . Lord Auckland’s group and CampbeU’s Is lan d ; on th e ground in turfy places; ß, in more elevated
situations.
Lam-er’s description of this species is very characteristic, though drawn up from a smaU state of the plant, the
apothecia not being always smaU, but sometimes even a line in diameter, they terminate in nearly erect, stout, solid,
naked, terete branches, are hemispherical, broader than the branch which bears them; in the adult state margined
only with the remains of a thallodal border, which afterwards faUs away entirely. This is the decisii'e mark between
aU forms of S. tenerum and S. coralUnim, for the colour varies from a rich brown to white and pink. It is au abundant
Austraban and Fuegian species.
2. Spiiærophoron australe, Laurer, in Linnæa, vol. ii. p. 4 4 . S. insigne, Laurer, 1. c.
H a b. Lord Auckland’s group.
I am indebted to Mr. Churchill Babington for an authentic specimen of tins beautiful species. In the normal
state it differs widely from S. compressum, the whole frond being plane, branched in a palmate maimer, repeatedly
and dichotomously divided, with ab the divisions divaricatmg and spread out bkc a fan, slightly convex above, there
smooth but hardly shining, pale ohve-gi-een or yellowish ; underneath, it is plane or slightly convex, more rngose
and white ; the ramuh of the oldest states arc often transversely cracked or articidate ; others again, and especially
the Tasmaman specimens, are membranaceous and buff-eolourcd, wholly unlike any other aspect hitherto observed
in the genus. In alpine specimens, gi-owing with Leptostomum inclinatum, ivliich bear fruit abundantly, tbe apothecia
are large, covered with a thin, hufl'-coloured membrane, fixed ivhoUy to the underside of the frond, wliich appears
prostrate and branched beyond it. From Lord Auckland’s group and Campbeh’s Island we have several varieties
of this plant ; 1. The thahus quite plane, repeatedly dichotomously branched, grey above, white beneath, powdered
with minute black sorcdia (or abortive apothecia), the apothecia rare, smah, nearly terminal on the under sm-face of
the frond. 2. Thallus short, pale yellow, densely tufted, with the ultimate branches broader and truncate ; always
ban-eu. 3. Thahus short, less divided especially below, white, pale gi-eeuish-ycllow or pink; ultimate branches
very short, thin, their apices everjavhere tipped with abortive apothecia. 4. Branches few, broader, stouter; apothecia
lai-ge. This is the ordinary fruiting state of the plant in these islands, and some specimens cannot be chstin