Gemis incerta sedis.
Gen. XX II. ABROTHALLUS, De Notaris.
1. Abrothallus Sm ith ii (Tulasnc, Ann. des Sc. Nat. 1852, p. 112) ; apotheciis hemisphæricis nigris
interdum virescenti-pruinosis, ascis sub-8 -sporis, sporis pallide olivaceo-brunneis oblongis obtusis uni-septatis
plerumque unum apicem versus incrassatis. {Ta b . CC. F.)
H a b . On Parmelia perlata, Ach., Cheshunt, Archer.
This curious plant, with no thallus of its own, occurs in a parasitical manner on the thalli of several species of
Parmelia, and on some other Lichens having a thallus of a similar substance. In the south of England it is not
uncommonly met with on Parmelia perlata and on P. sulcata, Taylor, usually considered a tree-state of P. saxatilis,
Ach. The apothecia are prominent, and resemble those of some small Lecidice, black on the surface, paler within ;
the spores in Mr. Archer’s specimens are about -gjigg of au inch in length, and g^gg or more wide. The position
of this genus is somewhat obscm-e ; in its mode of growth and want of thallus it is allied to some small erumpent
Fungi, aud to this family it is referred by Nylander; on the other haud De Notaris, Tulasne, and Lindsay, place
it amongst the Lichens, to which it has certainly equal claims. The species was originally figured in ‘ EngUsh
Botany,’ t. 1866, as Ziehen parasiticus. A monograph of the genus by Dr. Lauder Liudsay, with very careful
figures, was read before the British Association in August, 1856.—P l a t e CC. F. Eig, 1, vertical section of
apothecium ; 2, ascus, paraphysis, and ascus containing spores ; 3, spores ;—all n.
a d d it io n s , c o e r e c t io n s ,
(Page 3.) Clematis blanda and C. gentianoides are referred by Dr. Mueller to C. coriacea, DC., in
which Mr. Archer agrees.
(Page 4.) Clematis linearifolia, Steud. *
I have refen-ed this doubtfuUy to C. microphylla, DC. Dr. Mueller confirms this, and the older name of
De CandoDe should therefore be adopted.
(Page 7.) Ranunculus scapigerus, Hook., is referred by Mueller to R . plebejus, Br., au Australian
and New Zealand plant.
(Pages 8 and 9.) Ranunculus inundatus, Br., and R . glabrifolius, Br., are both referred by Mueller
to the New Zealand R. rivularis. Banks et Sol. Archer considers that R. cuneatus, Hook., is a variety of
nanus. Hook., and R . inconspicuus, Hook, fil., of R . glabrifolius. Hook.
(Page 10.) Ranunculus Pumilio, Br., is considered by MueUer and Archer to be a variety of
5 . sessilifcn'us, Br., and no doubt rightly.
(Page 10.) Add—
Gen. IV. CALTHA, L.
5, petaloidea, colorata. Petala 8. numerosa, rarius definita. 5-10, multiovulata.—
Herbæ; folüs radicalibus, scarioso-siipulatisj pedunculis 1-foris.
A geuus of the north and south temperate and colder zones ; more rare ou the mountains of intervening
latitudes. Several species are found iu Fuegia, and one ou the mountams of New Zealand, which so closely resembles
the Tasmanian species that I doubt then- proving distinct.— Ca//,^« is readily distingiüshed as a genus bv its 5-8-
petaloid uubncatmg sepals, absence of petals or glands, and many-seeded caipels. (Name from KaXaÎov.'« cup, in
allusion to the form of the flower of the Em'opean species.)
L Calllia mtrcloia (Muell. Itagiu. P h jt. Aust.) ; parYuk, foliis longe petiolatis late oblongis inte-
gemmis v. obtuse siimatis apice obtusis emarginalisYe, appemiicibus basi sursum inSexis laminæ aJuatis,
scapo brevi cr.asso, sepalis 5 -8 linearibus, staminibus 10, carpellis sub-7 (-6 - 8) 3- 5 -spermis.
H a b . Western Jlountains, Archer.
D istr . A lp s of Victoria, MueUer.
A small, tufted, fleshy or thick subcoriaccous herb. Rhizome, with thick fibres, descending. Uates aU springing
from the crown of the rhizome, 2-3 inclies long, spreading; petioles thick, with broad membranaceous sheathing
stipules ; lamina coriaceous, ^ inch long ; inflexed lobes ut the base sometimes wanting in Victoria specimeus
according to MueUer, sometimes with a lobule at their base exteruaUy. Scape veiy short, sessUe among the leaves,