MELITTOSPORIUM. 89 



pressed ; asci broadly clavate, apex rather acute ; spores 8, 

 irregularly biseriate, clavate or clavate- fusiform, 6-7-sep- 

 tate, becoming muriform, hyaline, 28-44 x 5-9 /x ; para- 

 physes filiform, adherent. 



Stictis pteridina, Phil. & Buck., in Bucknall's Fung. Bristol, 

 pt. vi. p. 5, t. 1, fig. 6 ; Phil., Brit. Disc, p. 384. 



On bracken stem. 



Fam. III. PATELLARIEAE. 



Ascophore minute, superficial at maturity, sessile, usually 

 discoid, with a blunt margin or immarginate, glabrous, 

 blackish, rarely clear-coloured, rather horny when dry ; 

 asci 2-4— 6-8-spored ; spores hyaline or coloured, continuous 

 or 1-many-septate ; paraphyses present. 



The present family is intermediate between Phacidieae 

 and Dermateae, differing from the former in being more 

 superficial at maturity and also in being patellate or discoid. 

 From the latter in being glabrous, usually blackish, and not 

 of a tough, corky consistency. 



The genera Celidium and Abrotliallus are parasitic on 

 lichens and hepatics ; the remainder are saprophytic, 

 growing on wood, bark, &c. 



ANALYSIS OF THE GENERA. 



A. Spores continuous. 

 * Spores hyaline. 

 Patinella. Ascus containing 8 spores. 

 Biatorella. Ascus containing innumerable, very minute 



** Spores brown. 



spores. 

 Lagerheima. 



Patellea. 



B. Spores 1-septate. 

 * Spores hyaline. 



