132 THE CLIMATE OF EASTERN TASMANIA, ETC. 



Nylander tells us (Sjn. Metli., p. 69) tliat tlie tropical zone 

 is specially characterised by its ejDipliyllous licliens, notably 

 by the genus Singula, and, among corticole lichens, by the 

 numerous species^of TJielotrema, Graphis, Chiodecton, GlyjohiSy 

 Trypethelium, and Porina. 



These genera, which are aPied to the Asconiycetes among 

 the Fungi, are largely represented in Queensland, on the 

 eastern or seaward side of the coastal ranges. All of them, 

 except the ForhuB, appear along the coast of New South 

 Wales, but are less numerous there, both specifically and 

 individually. In Victoria neither Strigulce nor Porince have 

 been found unless in a very undeveloped state ; and the 

 other genera have far fewer representatives than in the more 

 northern colonies. They are most frequent in the eastern 

 part of Victoria. I discovered many sj)ecies of Graphis and 

 TJielotrema and several Chiodecta on the seaward slope of the 

 dividing range to the east of Melbourne, and especially on the 

 Gippsland coast, and one Glyphis and one Trypethelium at 

 the Lakes Entrance in Grippsland. 



It remained to be seen whether or not my theory would be 

 supported bj lichenological explorations in Eastern and 

 North-eastern Tasmania. I had opportunity to test it on Mt. 

 Arthur and in St. Mary's Pass. And I found some of the 

 same Graphides and Chiodecta and even a Trypethelium, which. 

 I had collected near Sydney and at the Lakes Entrance in 

 Victoria. Two or three species of Chiodecta I found, not 

 only on Mt. Arthur, but even as far south as Mt. Wellington. 

 The genus Trypethelium is especially tropical or sub-tropical. 

 And the presence of one of this genus in St. Mary's Pass 

 testifies to the geniality of the climate in Eastern Tasmania. 



As in Victoria, so in the more southern colony, the warm, 

 current down the east coast of Australia brings southward 

 etnditions favourable to the growth of sub-tropical lichens. 



These facts, I think, suggest to the medical faculty what, 

 probably, their experience has already proved, that the climate 

 of East Gippsland, and the eastern coast of Tasmania must 

 be pre-eminentlj beneficial to invalids. Lichenological ob- 

 servations indicate that both of these places are favoured by 

 a much milder winter, as well as a cooler summer, than the 

 other parts of their respective colonies. 



