354 FLORA OF TASMANIA. [Lichenes, by Babington & Mitten. 
Genus incerte sedis. 
Gen. XXII. ABROTHALLUS, De Notaris. 
l. Abrothallus Smithii (Tulasne, Ann. des Sc. Nat, 1852, p. 112) ; apotheciis hemispheericis nigris 
interdum virescenti-pruinosis, ascis sub-8-sporis, sporis pallide olivaceo-brunneis oblongis obtusis uni-septatis 
plerumque unum apicem versus incrassatis. (Tas. CC. F. 
Has. On Parmelia perlata, Ach., Cheshunt, Archer. 
This curious plant, with no thallus of its own, occurs in a parasitical manner on the thalli of several species of 
Parmelia, and on some other Lichens having a thallus of a similar substance. In the south of England it is not 
uncommonly met with on Parmelia perlata and on P, sulcata, Taylor, usually considered a tree-state of P. sazatilis, 
Ach. The apothecia are prominent, and resemble those of some small Zecidie, black on the surface, paler within ; 
the spores in Mr. Archer's specimens are about „4155 of an inch in length, and sosy or more wide. The position 
of this genus is somewhat obscure; in its mode of growth and want of thallus it is allied to some small erumpent 
Fungi, and to this family it is referred by Nylander; on the other hand De Notaris, Tulasne, and Lindsay, place 
it amongst the Lichens, to which it has certainly equal claims. The species was originally figured in ‘English 
Botany, t. 1866, as Lichen parasiticus. A monograph of the genus by Dr. Lauder Lindsay, with very careful 
figures, was read before the British Association in August, 1856.—Puate CC. F. Fig. 1, vertical section of 
apothecium ; 2, ascus, paraphysis, and ascus containing spores; 3, spores :—all magnified. 
