ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 483 



and Discomycetes. The following new genera of Pyrenomycetes are 

 diagnosed and figured : — Microdothella, Heterodothis, Palawania, Stig- 

 matodothis, Actinodoihis, Aulaco stroma, and Stephanotheca. Ichnostroma 

 and Pyrnothyrium are new genera of Sphasropsidere. Many new species 

 of microfungi are described. 



Fungi from West Australia.* — W. B. Grove describes as new, 

 Puce •in ia Conosfylidis, Pteroconium asteroides, and Hendersonia oligoseptata 

 from West Australia. Harknessia uromycoides, which was first recorded 

 on Eucalyptus from America is here given from Perth. 



New Discinella.f — J. Ramsbottom gives an account of the genus 

 Discinella as it occurs in this country, and, together with D. Garnett, 

 describes a new species D. minutissima which is exceptional in the 

 remarkably small size of the apothecia. 



Atichia.J — A species of this peculiar genus is described from the 

 West Indies by A. D. Cotton, A. dominicana. There is given a history 

 of the genus which was first described as a lichen. An account of the 

 structure of the fungus is given and notes on the life-history and 

 systematics. A conspectus of the species of Atichiacege is appended. 



Lichens. 



By A. Lorrain Smith, F.L.S. 



Lichen Acids. § — G. Lettau has undertaken a micro-chemical research 

 as to the presence and reaction of some lichen acids. The method of 

 examining and testing minute portions under the Microscope, and de- 

 termining the nature of the substance present by the characters of the 

 colour and of the crystals formed, was recommended by Bachmann and 

 Senft. Lettau's research had mainly to do with the presence of sala- 

 zinic acid and its near allies. It has been found present in thirteen 

 lichen species, but when these are tested there arises a great variety of 

 results. Most of them colour yellow, but a change to rust-, wax-, or 

 blood-red, or even brown, soon follows. Whether this is due to the 

 presence of the acid has not hitherto been fully known. Lettau describes 

 his methods of research, and gives the results of his examination of the 

 thirteen lichens listed. He discusses the whole question of the re- 

 actions with several different reagents — potash, soda, and baryta water. 

 Then there follows a long series of lichens, all tested by him with micro- 

 chemical methods, and the results are given, many of them somewhat 

 difficult to explain. Salazinic acid was proved by him to be much more 

 wide-spread ; it occurred in seventy-two species out of twelve families. 

 The location of the acid in the thallus varied considerably. It could be 

 broken up and dissolved by hot or cold water. 



* Hedwigia, lv. (1914) pp. 145-7. t Journ. Bot., li. (1914) pp. 215-16. 



t Kew Bulletin, 1914, pp. 54-63. § Hedwigia, lv. (1914) pp. 1-78. 



2 K 2 



