382 



BRITISH DISCOMYCETES. 



As in the preceding genus, the excipulum is membra- 

 naceous, adnate to the matrix, more or less immersed, 

 orbicular or sometimes a little elongated, opening at the 

 top, but mostly without the distinct, friable ring of the 

 preceding ; sporidia elliptic, oblong-elliptic, fusiform or 

 linear, often pseudo-septate. 



On dead wood, herbaceous stems, etc. 



Name VTLKTOZ, pricked ; like punctures in the wood. 



ARRANGEMENT OF THE SPECIES. 



A. Sporidia elliptic . . . . . . . . species 1-3 



B. Sporidia clavate . . . . . . . . 4 



c. Sporidia fusiform . . . . . . . . 5-8 



D. Sporidia doubtful . . . . . . . . 9 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Hymenium urceolate 

 Hymeniuin somewhat superficial 

 Hymenium black : on grass 

 Hymenium greyish-black : on Cladoni'i 

 Hymenium reddish-brown 

 Hymeuium pallid or yellowish 

 (Sporidia simple, fusiform 

 \Sporidia 3 to 5-septate 

 o f Hymenium some shade of brown 

 ' (Hymenium blackish : on wood 

 Sporidia clavate 



Sporidia fusiform ; cups arranged in linear series 

 Sporidia fusiform ; cups scattered, resembling an 

 Hysterium 



\ 



2. 



3 

 graminum. 



lichenicola. 



punctiformis. 



2 



Fa gi cola. 



pallida. 



4 



microstonia. 



pteridina. 



seriata. 



hysterioides. 



A. SPORIDIA ELLIPTIC. 



1. Stictis lichenicola. Mont. 



Erumpent, between fleshy and waxy, cupuliform ; 

 hymenium grey-black, nearly plane ; margin obtuse, 

 blackish, cinereous, cracking in a stellate manner ; asci 

 cylindrical ; sporidia elliptic or obovate, with many 

 guttse, then septate or fenestrate. 



Stictis lichenicola Mont., " Ann. Sc. Nat.," 1836, 

 p. 281, t. 13, f. 3; Berk., "Ann. Nat. Hist," No. 166; 

 Cooke, " Handbk.," No. 2224 ; Phil, and Plow., Gre- 

 villea," iv. p. 123. 



On Cladonia pyxidata. 



Mr. Berkeley expressed his doubt whether this was a 



