The Literature on the Classification of the Hysteriales. 177 
some of the early descriptions of lichens. Thus Ray (r, p. 71) 
may have observed one of the Hysteriales; he gave the following 
description in 1724: ‘48. Lichenoides crusta tenuissima, pere- 
grinis velut litteris inscripta. Found by Dr Doering at Westerham, 
a little beyond the Schoolhouse on a Tree in the Lane, that 
leadeth to Querry’s in Kent.’ There is nothing very distinctive 
about this description, which would probably more aptly apply 
to certain lichens, but the Latin diagnosis was quoted verbatim 
by Micheli, Dillenius, Linnaeus, Haller, and others, and after 
modification and elaboration came finally to be involved in the 
synonymy of Hysterium pulicare, and also in the synonymy of 
the lichen Graphis scripta. In other words, various writers 
following Ray considered that the material they examined 
agreed with the general description Ray had given, or with the 
descriptions subsequent writers had elaborated from Ray’s de- 
scription and an examination of other material, until finally a 
definite plant could be recognised. 
Micheli (2, p. 102) described: ‘‘7. Lichen crustaceus, tartaricus, 
arboribus adnascens, niger, & veluti deustus, receptaculis florum 
transverse oblongis, & quasi reniformibus non intortis, brevibus. 
Tab. 54. fig. 2. Per ambulacrum Imperialis villae in Ilicum 
cavernulis late se diffundens.”’ This is referred to by Lightfoot 
and others as noted below. Micheli quoted Ray in No. g, and 
noted ‘‘receptaculis florum sub cute erumpentibus, nigricanti- 
bus, transverse oblongis, varie divarigatis, & compressis.” His 
numbers 10 and 11 are noted by Dillenius and Linnaeus. 
Dillenius (3, p. 125) quoted Ray, gave figures, and noted: “‘ Per- 
tenui constat crusta albicante, cui variae figurae lineae inae- 
quales, nigrae,...sunt....Nec tubercula nec scutellae aliquae 
mihi visae sunt.’’ He stated that this plant occurred on elms 
and oaks and considered Micheli’s Nos. 9, 10 and 11 to be no 
more than varieties. Dillenius followed with ‘“‘2. Lichenoides 
punctatum & rugosum nigrum. The black dotted wrinkled 
Lichenoides. Crusta est tenuissima candida, cui maculae trans- 
versim innascuntur nigrae, pro arborum aetate & magnitudine 
majores & minores, nunc ex punctis elevatis, velut tuberculis 
quibusdam parvis, nunc ex lineis oblongis, tanquam rugis, dense 
congestis conflatae. Quae rugae vel non, vel parum ramosae sunt, 
linea vel sulco in medio (per lentem) destitutae, secus ac in 
praecedenti specie. A qua porro differt, quod puncta & rugae 
densius congestae sint.’’ This form he reported on beech and 
oaks where the bark was still smooth and equal. 
Haller (4, p. 188) listed: ‘“‘ Lichen bivalvis de rimis efflorescens, 
ater, characteristicus,”’ followed by Ray’s words, but with re- 
ference only to “Dill. t. 18. f. 1.” 
Linnaeus (5, p. 343) in 1745 merely brought together these 
M.S. I2 
