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The geiius Stictis, originally formed by P e r s o o n in his
Observatioues Mycologie*, upon three species, one of which
does not belong to it, contains at present, according to F r i e s ,
twenty species. The last-mentioned author has divided them
into three groups, according as the hymenium is persistent and
gelatinous, or elliptical and deliquescing, or irregular in form,
and becoming powdery :
1. CoRTiciA. Hymenium subliberum, erumpens, gelatinosum, persistens.
2. X ylo g ra ph a . Hymenium ellipticum, deliquescens.
S. P r o po l is . Hymenium variæ iiguræ, in pulverem fatiscens.
The subject of the present description is known to be more
variable than any of the rest, not only in the general size, hut
in the character of the marginal limb, and colour of the hy-
menium. The limb, however, is always white, when it is present,
and pulverulent ; and the colour of the hymenium varies
only from pale orange to white. Judging from figures
and descriptions, the limb seems to be quite as often entire as
cleft into radiating segments : for my own part, I have not seen
it otherwise.
Fig. 1. Stictis radiata, on stems q f Pteris aquilina, natural size. Fig. 2. A
group q f plants. Fig. S. Plants destitute q f the spreading limb. Fig. 4.
Sectim q f a plant. Fig. 5. Thecæ and sporidia ;—magnified.
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