THAMNOLIA.] SIPHULEI. 185 



cortical layer separates it from the former. The apothecia have heen 

 described by some authors as similar to those of Roccella, and by others 

 to those of dadortta, but both are apparently erroneous. 



1. T. vermicularis Schaer. Enum. (1850) p. 243, t. ix. f. 7. 

 Thallus prostrate, ascending or erect, simple or bifurcate, smooth 

 or longitudinally rugulose, somewhat dispersed or stipitate, chalky- 

 white or whitish (K-f yellow): apothecia unknown. Mudd, Man. 

 p. 68 ; Cromb. Lich. Brit. p. 23 ; Leight. Lich. Fl. p. 83, ed. 3, p. 75. 

 Cladonia vermicularis Sm. Eng. Fl. v. p. 234; Mudd, Brit. Clad, 

 p. 34. Ctiwiityee ? vermicularis Hook. Fl. Scot. ii. p. 65. Cerania 

 vermicularis Gray, Nat. Arr. i. p. 413. Lichen vermicularis Sw. in 

 Linn. til. Moth. Muse. (1781) p. 119; Dicks. Crypt, fasc. ii. t. 6. 

 f. 10 ; With. Arr. ed. 3, iv. p. 41 ; Eng. Bot. t. 2024. Brit. Exs. : 

 Cromb. n. 13. 



Easily recognized by the form and habit of the thallus, somewhat 

 resembling small white worms, whence its trivial name. The stipites are 

 simple, but sometimes more or less shortly branched. The apothecia 

 have not y^et been certainly detected ; for in the absence of any fertile 

 specimen it is very doubtful whether the " tubercules " figured by 

 Dickson, /. c., corresponding to those described by Swartz, be really the 

 fructification. M assalongo, Flora, 1856, p. 234, and Fries fil. Lich. Arct. 

 p. 161, represent the apothecia as being Cladonieine, but this is still very 

 doubtful. The sperniogones are also very rare. They are somewhat 

 large, lateral, margined by the thallus, entirely white or colourless, with 

 spermatia 0,004-5 mm. long, scarcely 0,001 mm. thick. On the thallus 

 occasionally are found two parasites, Microthelia vermicularia Linds., and 

 Endocarpon Cromfnei Mudd, both of which are evidently fungi. 



Hab. On the ground among mosses and heaths in subalpine and alpine 

 regions. Distr. Very local and rare on the mountains of N. Wales and 

 N. England ; general and plentiful on all the higher Grampians and the 

 N. Highlands of Scotland ; not seen in Ireland. B. M. : Cader Idris, 

 Merionethshire ; Skiddaw, Cumberland. Ben Lawers, Craig Calliach, 

 and Ben Vrackie, Perthshire ; Clo^a Mts. and Canlochan, Forfarshire ; 

 Lochnagar, Morrone, Glen Candlic, Ben-naboord, and Cairntoul, Brae mar, 

 Aberdeenshire ; Ben Nevis, Inverness-shire ; Ben Luighal, Sutherland- 

 shire ; Hills of Applecross, Ross-shire. 



Var. ft. taurica Schter. Enum. (1850) p. 244. Thallus ventri- 

 coso-subulate, suberect, recurved, and cornute at the apices, often 

 divergently branched, the branches cornute and subulate. Cromb. 

 Journ. Hot. 1885, p. 195. Lichen tauricus Wulf. in Jacq. Coll. ii. 

 (1788) p. 177, t. 12. f. 2. 



Differs in the more turgid and erect stipites, and in the form of their 

 apices. Like the type it is never found with apothecia, though, as 

 observed by Nylander, Lich. Scand. p. 68, it occurs spermogoniiferous. 



Hab. On the ground in alpine places. Distr. Extremely local and 

 rare, having been found only on one of the N. Grampians, Scotland. 

 ]J. M. : Near the summit of Cairngorm, Braeinar, Aberdeenshire. 



