owing to this circumstance that it has received less attention
than it deserves. As one of the points by which the two great
groups of Algce and Lichenes approach each other, and even
seem to come into actual contact, it alone possesses great interest
; hut it is besides very distinct as an individual. From the
only other known species, L.pygmcea, it is separated, not only
by its invariably many times smaller size, but hy its cylindrical
(never plane) fronds, and longer tubercles : the branches, moreover,
are not so uniformly divaricate as in L . pygmcea, and
never palmate. Except in the form of the tubercle, the fructification
is in every respect similar; but it is more difficult to
examine, on account of the extreme minuteness of the part.
The mode of growth of this species very much resembles that
of many lichens, for the centre of the tuft dies away, leaving
the circumference entire, which continues to enlarge itself in a
concentrical manner. At the distance of a few feet, it cannot
be distinguished from a Collema.
Fig. i. F. confinis, natural size, on apiece qfrock. Fig. 2. A plant. Fig. 3.
A tubercle. Fig. 4. A tubercle vertically divided. Fig. 5. A thin horizontal
slice from, the tubercle. Fig. 6. Filaments and seeds. Fig. 7- Seeds:—
magnified.