LICHEN sophodes.
Obscure B lack-shielded Lichen.
CRYPTOGAMIA Algce.
Gen. Char, Male, scattered warts.
Female, smooth shields or tubercles, in which the
seeds are imbedded.
Spec. Char. Crust orbicular, granulated, dull greenish
ash-colour. Shields slightly convex, clustered, black,
with an elevated, entire border, coloured like the
crust.
Syn. Lichen sophodes. Ach. Prod. 67.
Parmelia sophodes. Ach. Meth. 155.
T h a t this little-known Lichen is distinct from ater, t. 949,
no botanist can scruple to admit, and as such we venture to
publish it. Acharius says it is an intermediate species between
that and his exiguus; but as we find it difficult, even with
specimens before us communicated by that learned writer, to
settle our opinion of the latter, we leave it in doubt.
L. sophodes is found by Mr. W . Borrer to be common upon
trees in Sussex, and Mr. Turner has also sent it from Yarmouth.
The crust when young is circular, consisting of little granulations,
which give it an evident substance or thickness. The
surface is not at all mealy j its colour an obscure greenish
grey, very different from the occasional varieties of colour in
that of L. ater. Shields numerous, crowded, small, each
proceeding from a minute granulation; their disks flattish at
first, then convex, of a not very intense black. Border elevated,
of the substance and colour of the crust, smooth and
entire, except at an advanced age, when it becomes a little
wrinkled.
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