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LICHEN fragrans.
Fragrant Gelatinous Lichen,
CRYPTOGAM!A Algce.
G e n . C h a r . Male, scattered warts.
Female, smooth shields or tubercles, in which the
seeds are imbedded.
S p e c . C h a r . Gelatinous, fleshy, olive-black ; its lobes
ascending, crowded, rounded, thick-edged, crenate,
smooth. Shields scattered, dull tawny, with a thick
olive border.
G a t h e r e d on the trunks of elms and ashes in Kent,
Surrey and Sussex, by Mr. W. Borrer, who sent it to us as a
new species,, and we believe justly. We can refer it to none
o f the specimens or descriptions of Acharius or Bernhardi. If
we err in so difficult a tribe, we must trust to the forgiveness
of these authors and of our readers.
The fronds form small tufts, at first sight not unlike L. fascicular
is, t. 1162, in aspect and colour, but very different
when examined. They spread horizontally, but their lobes,
which are small, rounded, erenate, thickened at the edge,
turn upwards. The surface is smooth. Shields scattered irregularly,
minute, sessile; their disk of a dull tawny hue,
concave; their border thick, somewhat lighter than the frond,
externally tumid and uneven. The plant is remarkable when
moistened for a very sweet aromatic scent, not unlike the
spiritus volatilis aromaticus of the apothecaries, though of
pourse much fainter.
As we are on the subject of gelatinous Lichens, it may be
useful to remark that Parmelia sagenalis, Aeh. Metk. 247,
Dill. Muse. 1. 19 .ƒ. 2 1 , proves by the specimen at Oxford,'
which we have examined, to be an Ulna, allied to Conferva um-
lilicata, Velley T r .o fL . Soc. v.. 5. 1 6 9 . t. 7 , and Mr. Turner,
on seeing my correspondent specimen, assures me it is TJlvQ
siellata of Wulfen in Jacq. Qoll. v. 1. 351.