20 M’HEBAOEI. [ s p il o n e m a .
SPILONEMA.] SIKOSIPHEI. 21
Jouni. Bot. 1874, p. 331), which most probably is a distinct genus.
Spilonema would then contain only one species, viz. S. paradoxuin. From
Eplwbe, though differing but slightly in the structure of the thallus, Spilonema
is readily distinguished by the fructification.
1. S. p a rad o x um Born. Mém. Soc. Cherb. iv. (1856) p. 226,
t. 1 , 2.—Thallus frutioulose, branched, thin, cylindrioal, pannoso-
intric ate, th e branohlets subseound, dark-brown or brownish-black,
usually opaque. Apotheoia small, terminal, somewhat convex, im-
marginate, black ; spores oblong, simple, 0,009 mm. long, 0,004 mm.
thick, hypothecium blackish ; hymenial gelatine deep blue, then
Fig. 2.
Spilonema paradoxum Born.—a. ThaUine branch with apothecium, x 30.
a'. Three branches with spermogones, X30. b. Fragment of trunk and
larger branch, and b', branohlets, X 200. o. Very thin section of thalUne
trunk, and o' transverse section of the same, X 200. d. Section of apothecium,
X 30. e. Theca and paraphyses, X 350. / . Spores, X 500. g.
Jointed sterigmata and spermatia, X 500.
dark-violet w ith iodine.—Nyl. Syn. i. p. 89, t. 2. f. 4 ; Mudd,
Man. p. 3 5 ; Leight. Ann. Mag. Nat. H ist. ser. 3, xvi. p. 9,
t. 4. ff. 7 -1 1 ; Lioh. FI. p. 11, od. 3, p. 1 0 ; Cromb. Lich. B rit. p. 1;
Journ. Bot. 1874, p. 331.—B rit. Exs. : Leight. n. 347.
In an infertile or immature state this is difficult to distinguish from
some species of allied genera. The thallus bears a considerable resemblance,
when fully developed, to Ephebe pubesceyis, but is rather smaller,
w'liile the monoecious fructification, the apothecia, and the spermogones
prevent all confusion between them. The apothecia are rarely seen in British
speciinons, though the spermogones are not uufrequent ; they are minute
black tubercules, with sterigmata 4-G-articulate, spermatia 0,002-0,0025
mm. long, 0,005-0,001 mm. thick.
Ilab. On schistose rocks in maritime and subalpine tracts.—Dfsfr.
Local and scarce in N. Wales, and the S.W. Highlands of Scotland;
though no doubt it will be detected in other similar localities.—B. M. :
J3aniiouth, Merionetlisliire ; Barcaldine^ Argyleshire.
2. s. re v e rte n s Nyl. Flora, 1865, p. 601.—Thallus effuse, minutely
ooralloideo-compacfc, in somewhat small, verruculoso pul-
vinuli, black or brownish-black. Apotheoia lecideine, adnato, some-
wliafc convex, iinmarginate, black, dark-greyish w ith in ; spores
oblong, simple, 0,008-0,011 mm. long, 0 ,0 0 5 -6 mm. th ick ; p araphyses
thickish, incrassate and denigrate a t the apices ; hymenial
gelatine bluish, tho apices of th e thecæ deep-blue with iodine —
Cromb. Jo u rn . Bot. 1874, p. 331 ; Leight. Lich. FI. od. 3, p. 1 1 .
In this species the piilvinuli are more or less crowded, and in a young
or poorly developed state are frequently .somewhat discrete. Sirosiphm
saxuxla Naeg. in great part is apparently a sterile leprarioid condition
or this plant. In the only British specimen seen the apothecia are but
sparingly present. On the thallus of the same specimen pycnides are
also visible, which are minute, globose, immersed, colourless, with somewhat
curved stylospores.
1M>. On moist schistose rocks in subalpine districts.—Dfstr. Very
local and r.are, at least in a mature condition, being known only from the
Central Grampians, Sco tlan d .-B. M. ; Craig Tulloch, Blair AthMe, P erth-
ahire. ^
3. S. scoticum_ Nyl. Flora, 1869, p. 82.—Thallus effuse, minutely
coralloid, in small, compact, verruoose, somewhat convex
pulvmuh, black or brownish-black. Apotheoia mimito, th in ly
margined, black, epithooium impressed or slightly convex, vaguely
obscure, hypothecium colourless ; spores oviformi-obloiig, 1 -septate
0 ,9 1 0 -1 4 mm. long, 0,0045 mm. thick, paraphyses somewhat slender;
hymenial gelatine bluish, th e thecæ violet with iodine. Cromb
Journ. Bot. 1869, p. 1 0 5 ; Lioh. Brit. p. 1 ; Leight. Lioh. F l ’
p. 12, ed. 3, p. 11.
The pulvinuli are usually discrete, though occasionally approximate,
on the crustaceous thalli, or the decayed mosses on which the plant
occurs. I t 13 closely allied to the preceding, hut is well distinguished by
the apothecia and the spores. The sterile thallus seems to be not un'-
common ; but the apothecia are very rare. As in S. revertens, no spermogones
have yet been detected, so th at both species are only temporarily
placed in Spilonenui. J x j
Hah. On mica-schist rocks, and on dead mosses (also on Stereocaulon
condensatum) in subalpine tracts.—ZFsfr. Probably not un-
irequent in the mountamous districts of our Islands, though known only
from N. W a le s N 8. Grampians, Scotland.—B. M.'i
Llyn Aran Bolgelly, Merionethshire; Teesdale, Durham ; Ben Lawers
and Craig Calliach, Perthshire.