Evans: THREE SouTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF ASTERELLA 479 
similar to the marginal wings, plane faces with similar but more 
irregular. networks, surface otherwise irregularly punctate and 
marked with fine and irregular lines, especially along the broadened 
out and darker margins of the wings and ridges, sometimes tending 
to form secondary and finer networks within the meshes of the 
coarse network; elaters brown or reddish brown, somewhat curved 
or often nearly straight, mostly 180-240 uw long and 12-16 pu wide, 
tapering toward the rounded ends, usually with two or three 
spirals in the median portion and one or two at the ends 
Known only from Bolivia; the following specimens have been 
examined: 
BoLtviA: without definite localities or dates, M. Bang (N. Y.; 
two specimens, one numbered 1869, the other not numbered). 
The type locality is described by Stephani as follows: ‘‘ Hab. 
Bolivia. (Bong. legit).””. In all probability ‘Bong.”’ is a mis- 
print for ‘‘Bang,’’ and the specimens listed above represent a 
portion of the original material, but this cannot be proved at 
the present time. 
The original description of this distinct and interesting species 
is far from complete and makes no mention whatever of the epi- 
dermis, the green tissue, the spores or the elaters. The author 
emphasizes the robust and rigid thallus, the ventral and short 
sexual branches, and the large disc (6 mm. in diameter, according 
to his statements), semiglobose at the vertex and slightly con- 
stricted. He notes further the presence of four campanulate 
involucres, with large truncate mouths, without saying anything 
about the lobes of the receptacle, and he describes the ventral 
scales as large and purple, bearing a large, broadly oval appendage 
with a long hooked bristle at the apex. The material examined 
by the writer shows that the ventral scales are more variable than 
this description indicates and that the hooked apical bristle, 
although sometimes distinct, is usually represented by a straight 
or variously contorted or curved bristle. It shows, moreover, 
the frequent presence of two appendages. Unfortunately the 
specimens are insufficient to establish an autoicous inflorescence 
_ beyond a doubt, only one male branch having been observed; 
. the features of the involucre have likewise been left undetermined 
_in order to avoid the sacrifice of one of the few receptacles, but 
_ there is no reason for supposing that the involucre is in any 
_ way distinctive. | 
