^'^^••] BAStow, Lichen-Flora of Victoria. 177 



breath, the train passed out of the station at one end as we 

 passed in at the other. I had broken my word, and was 

 disgusted with myself. However, we had two hours more to 

 wait for the next train, and utihzed the time by walking up to 

 the boundary fence, where I collected the beautiful little Anzia and 

 also Calopisma. Wilson smiled at me as I sat ruminating about 

 someone " nursing their wrath to keep it warm " ; but I had 

 a return smile at him as he shook hands with me. He intended 

 getting out at Richmond. He stood waiting at the carriage 

 door to get out, but the train passed on, and so did he. " Why 

 did you not get out ? " said I. " Can't you see ? " said he. 

 I smiled. We had a splendid and most enjoyable day. 



If we tear a frond of lichen across, we shall find a leathery, 

 impervious, cortical layer at the top, and a bright green gonidic 

 layer, and after that a white, spongy, medullary layer. The 

 so-called alga cells are found in the green gonidic layer, and 

 they appear to play an important part in the economy of the 

 plant. In fact. Fries, no mean authority, defines hchens as 

 " algae born in the air, and interrupted in their development 

 by the deficiency of water and stimulated into forming a 

 nucleus by light." 



The accepted reproductive system of lichens is in the 

 apothecium. This contains the spores, and by their germination 

 and subsequent development the species is reproduced. 



The spermogenes (fig. 10), which discharge at certain periods 

 minute bodies called spermatia, are now generally acknow- 

 ledged to be the male organs, resulting in fertilization. 



The pycnides do not yet seem to be well understood, but I 

 learn that they may be superficial spermogenes. 



The spermogenes are ripe before the development of 

 the apothecium, and must be looked for in the form of black, 

 point-like bodies scattered on the thallus or outer layer. It 

 must be distinctly understood that no positive proof has as 

 yet been obtained as to the fecundating influence of spermatia 

 on the spores, but it appears to be highly probable. 



About twelve years ago I made a collection (generic only) 

 of lichens of Victoria ; they are laid on the tal)le for exhibition, 

 and please note that if the margin of the apothecium is the 

 same colour as the thallus — i.e., the outer layer — then the plant 

 is leconarine ; but if the margin is diverse in colour from the 

 thallus, then the plant is lecideine. This distinction is necessary 

 in using the diagnosis. All the hchens on exhibition have 

 passed through the late Rev. F. R. M. Wilson's hands, and 

 the pencil notes on them are in his own handwriting. They 

 remind me of the many pleasant rambles we took at Macedon, 

 Braybrook Junction, Warburton, Black Spur, Fernshaw, Lakes 

 District, Sorrento, &c. 



