554 DR. LINDSAY ON NEW-ZEALAND LICHENS. 
In fruit, and spermogoniferous ; apothecia mostly degenerate, exhibiting no spores. 
There appear to be two forms of the plant, varying in the size of the apothecia, cor- 
responding to the major and minor forms (type and var. nitidella) of V. nitida, a plant 
to which the present, in Otago specimens, has a general resemblance. These major and 
minor forms are further distinguished by spermogones, which differ in the character of 
their spermatia—an instance of polymorphism or plurality in the fructification of the 
lower lichens which is far from uncommon. | 
l. Minor form (b). Spermogones abundant, especially about the periphery of the 
thallus (which follows all the rugosities and fissures of the bark, to which it is intimately 
adherent), and seattered among the apothecia as minute black papillæ, similar in ex- 
ternal character, but inferior in size, to the apothecia themselves. Spermatia (b) in 
myriads, very delicate, linear, curved, 00045” long, 00005" broad, generally more or less 
straight while articulated to the sterigmata; sterigmata also linear, tapering superiorly, 
simple, 0006" to ‘0009 long, arising from a pale greenish-yellow basal cellular tissue. 
2. Major form (a). Spermogones externally resembling those already described, save 
that they are grouped by themselves outside the region occupied by the apothecia. 
Spermatia, however, very different, though also in myriads; atomie, linear, ellipsoid, 
'0001" long, 00005” broad, seated on simple, linear-conoid sterigmata, about :00015" 
long. 
Sp. 2. V. NITIDA, Schrad. 
On trunks of living trees, Greenisland bush, Otago: W. L. L. Thallus coarsely ver- 
rucose, brownish yellow, resembling the very rugose thallus of some Pertusarie. Apo- 
thecia large, scattered or confluent, frequently irregular or difform, sometimes maculæ- 
form, occasionally cæsio-pruinose, seated equally on the depressions and elevations of a 
thallus which follows closely all the rugæ and fissures of old cracked tree-barks. Ina 
specimen in herbarium Kew, on the bark of Mangifera Indica, Mauritius, the thallus 
is vermilion-red, and the spores olive, 0008" long, ‘0003 broad. 
Var. nitidella, Flk. 
On the trunks of trees, Martin's bush, Chain-hills, Otago: W. L. L. Thallus smooth, 
but of the same brownish-yellow hue as in the type. Apothecia smaller and —_— 
regular in form than in the type, frequently with a distinct black-punctate ostiole girt 
by a paler or whitish ring, sometimes confluent, and then subdifform. In British 
specimens in herbarium Kew, from Turner, the apothecia are also more abundant and 
crowded, and much smaller than in the type, the spores, however, being the same 
0008” to ‘0010 long, 0003” broad. 
Sp. 3. V. EPIDERMIDIS, Ach., var. punctiformis, Ach. é 
On twigs of shrubs, head of Otago harbour, associated with Physcia chrysophthalma 
&e. In specimens of the type in herbarium Kew (sub nom. 7. stigmatella, Ach., an 
V. analepta, Ach.: on young oaks, St. Leonard’s Forest), and also in various Irish "s 
Scotch specimens, the spores are soleæform, pale yellow, 0008” long, 0003” broad; an 
theese 0035" long, 0006" broad. 
