i6 The Scottish A^atiiralist. 



DESCRIPTIONS OP NEW SCOTTISH LICHENS. 



By JAMES STIRTON, M.D., F.L.S. 



Pannaria pielantera, sp. nov. — Similis P. dolichoter^e (Nyl.) sed 

 sporis longioribus, .03-.045 x .0045-.005 mm., 1-3-septatis 

 vel simpHcibus. Thallus niger effusus profmide et late 

 diffractus vel potius squamosus, squamis crassiusculis minute 

 papulosis infra nigro-coerulescentibus ; apothecia sessilia 

 nigra plana vel convexiuscula margine nigro nitido cincta, 

 parva (latit. .5-. 6 mm.); paraphyses articulatae crassiusculae 

 (latit. .003-.004 mm.) apicibus clavatis coerulescentibus ; 

 hypothecium fuscescens. lodo gel. hym. coerulescens, 

 thecae fulvescentes. Ad saxa micaceo-schistosa, Ben Lawers. 



The thallus is abundantly supplied with gelatinous nodules (as 

 in Nostoc), containing gonimia. These are of various colours, 

 as red, yellow, fulvous, &c. Sirosiphoid filaments are also pres- 

 ent. Other gonimia in groups are noticeable, many of which in 

 an active state of development by fission. No true gonidia have 

 been detected. Such a conglomeration of the so-called lower 

 algae I have seldom or never seen. 



A rather puzzling problem for solution is here presented to the 

 believers of the algo-mycological theory of lichens — viz., what 

 relationship subsists between these algae and the apothecia? Is 

 it necessary to the full development of such apothecia that such 

 a conglomeration and no other should be present as a nidus ; or 

 are several merely accidental, and therefore unnecessary? I 

 have examined different parts of the thallus (which is widely 

 extended on the rock), but the same conglomeration occurs 

 throughout. 



Lecidea fucata, sp. nov. — Thallus cinereus granulosus, vix ullus 

 visibilis ; apothecia nigra rotunda vel oblonga vel nonnihil 

 irregularia convexa et immarginata, intus tota intense 

 violacea, iodo vix mutata, K coeruleo-virescentia ; sporae 

 (i-3)n3e incolores ellipsoideae vel oblongo - ellipsoideae, 

 episporio crasso pellucido, .032-.048 x .0T5-.022 mm. ; hypo- 

 thecium incolor. K protoplasma sporarum maturarum 

 nigro fulvaceum. Ad lignum decorticatum prope Tyndrum. 

 Forsan affinis L. melinae. 

 Tlie paraphyses are rendered distinct by K, and are thickish 

 and somewhat irregular. The intense violaceous colour of a 

 section of the apothecia is a well-marked character. 



