260 DR. LINDSAY ON THE SPERMOGONES AND 
the other hand, the character of the Basidia in some forms, at least, of the pycnides of 
L. abietina, is so far unique that it differs from that which is to be found, whether rarely 
or commonly, in either spermogonal sterigmata or pyenidal basidia. I regard, however, 
the distinction between spermogones and pyenides as purely one of convenience, arbitrary 
and artificial. There is no constant or evident distinction between them, either of an 
anatomical, morphological, or physiological kind. Many conceptacles possess the cha- 
racters of both spermogones and pycnides ; a consequence of which is, that while one class 
of lichenologists ranks them as spermogones and the contained corpuscles as spermatia, 
another designates the same conceptacles and corpuscles pyenides and basidia! The 
pyenides and spermogones of L. abietina are so much more common than its apothecia, 
that it is quite a rarity to find the latter, and especially associated with its secondary or 
complementary reproductive organs. Nylander (Prod. p. 138, and Lich. Scand. p. d 
describes the spermatia of L. abietina as oblong-cylindrical. à 
Species 26. L. atro-grisea, Del. (Mudd, Brit. Lich. p. 183,=Z. premnea, Ach. pr. p.). 
Specimen 1. On oak, Hopton, 1805: in Kew herb. Both apothecia and spermogones 
are abundant. The former are very like those of Z. abietina, except that they are 
always black and scabrous, not white, nor pruinose. The sporidia are 5-septate. The 
spermogones are black papillæ, frequently flattened and degenerate, sometimes immersed. 
The spermatia are rod-shaped, 5050 X 75,500» On very short, simple sterigmata, about 
7099 t0 5000 long. 
Specimen 2. On silver fir, Ardrum, near Cork, Mar. 1858: Carroll. Spermogones are 
abundant, as small, but, under the lens, distinct black dots, scattered, among the apothecia, 
over the white, smoothish thallus. Their envelope is of a deep indigo-coloured, bluish- 
black, or blackish-brown, cellular tissue. The spermatia are linear (or cylindrical), 
straight, or slightly curved, g955 X 15,00»; on short, simple, linear sterigmata, about 
1300 long with spermatia attached. 
Specimen 3. Rostellan, near Cork: Carroll; associated with Verrucaria gemmata. 
Pycnides here occur associated with the Lecidea and Verrucaria, but not necessarily 
belonging to either. They are black and Verrucarioid, with stylospores, which are 
6000 X 3000, Oval, simple, or faintly 1-septate, sometimes having granular contents, or 
containing one or more nucleiform oil-globules. The basidia are short, simple, and 
filiform. 
The Biatora atro-grisea, Hepp Exs. No. 26 (which= Lecidea atro-grisea, Mudd, Brit. 
Lich. p. 184), is also =L. luteola, var. fuscella, Nyl. Prod. p. 114, whose spermogones; 
according to Nylander, constitute the Pyrenothea fuscella, Fr.*, and which also possesses 
pycnides, in which respect it resembles L. vernalis. The spermogones have cylindrical, 
straight spermatia, while the pyenides contain oblong, 1-septate stylospores. 3 
Specimen 4. Hepp Exs. No. 76, sub Patellaria fuscella. On the right-hand specimen 
in my copy, occur pycnides essentially corresponding in characters with those described: 
by Nylander as belonging to Z. luteola, var. fuscella. "They are superficial and easily 
* =Verrucaria leucocephala, var. amphibola, Desmaz. Cr. Fr., Sér. 2, p. 398, 
