Verrucana.] LICHENES. 97 



surface is even, uot broken up at any period into tumid warts, and is 

 pruinose even in a young state, while V. obscura appears pulverulent 

 only in old a°-e, when the tough brownish cuticle has been worn away. 

 The pruinose tops of the tubercles are likewise distinctive. Yet the 

 analogy is strong in the relative position and apparent confluence of 

 the tops of the apothecia. The nucleus seems destitute of a coat, is 

 oblong, pale brownish, semitransparent, gelatinous when wet, and 

 studded with minute points. The apothecia are placed upright, and 

 not inclined in various directions as in Porina. 



36. V. peripherica. Thallus tartareous, finely pruinose, 

 white, rather thick, cracked in the centre, the border broad, 

 smooth, tinged with flesh colour ; apothecia, numerous, black, 

 globular, half immersed, occurring about the periphery. 



On siliceous rocks, Carig Mountain, County of Kerry. The broad 

 white peripheries of imperfect circles sometimes three to four inches, 

 at others two to three feet in diameter, studded with minute, con- 

 trastedly black apothecia, render this species easy to be recognised. 

 The central portions are wanting to the thallus, or replaced by other 

 lichens, while the existence of the individual is continued as a slowly 

 increasing wave on the surface of the rock. Apothecia on the newer 

 parts of the thallus, perhaps less than poppy seeds in size, numerous, 

 not crowded, black, not shining, half emerging, globular, with a nipple 

 on the summit, which dropping, leaves a pore. Perithecium thick, 

 black, passing beneath the nucleus, which is globular, semitransparent, 

 pale brown, consisting of numerous cellules, among which are other 

 larger, longer, darker, slightly curved, transversely striated cells, con- 

 catenated into cylindrical bodies, attached to the base of the perithe- 

 cium. 



37. V. umbrosa. Thallus thin, subtartareous, brown or 

 olive, determinate with a black edge ; buds conspicuous in ele- 

 vated, minute, flattish collections of ochraceous granules; apo- 

 thecia black, rough, numerous, not crowded. 



On shaded rocks, County of Kerry and elsewhere ; not uncommon. 

 The brick coloured buds or soredia, constantly present, at once denote 

 this species. The thallus swells with moisture ; it closely invests the 

 rock ; its surface is rather rough and uneven. The buds are dispersed 

 or irregularly crowded, and are not unlike the supposed apothecia of 

 Spiloma gregarium. The apothecia are roundish or oblong, flattish, 

 slightly sunk in the thallus, rough with irregular depressions above, as 

 if the surface were ruptured. The perithecium is coal black, rather 

 thick and hard ; beneath is an irregular rather shallow nucleus, slightly 

 brownish, transparent, gelatinous, containing elongated cellules as well 

 as some of a round form : this nucleus or lamina rests on a thick 

 black layer, or, perhaps, we may be justified in saying that the peri- 

 thecium passes beneath the nucleus. The apothecia are rare, in dif- 

 ferent specimens they vary much in size. 



38. V. mollis. Thallus subtartareous, soft, powdery, or 

 minutely granulate, rusty brown, finely cracked into minute 

 flat heaps ; indeterminate ; with a thin, black, substratum ; 

 apothecia very minute, numerous, irregularly aggregated, black, 

 not polished. 



M 



