278 PYRBNOCARPEI [VERRUOARIA 



xix. p. 305 (1875)) calls attention to the very considerable variation in 

 form and size of the spores of maritime lichens. 



Hab. On maritime rocks, rarely on pebbles in streams. — Distr. Rare 

 in the Channel Islands, S. Wales, E. and W. Scotland, and N., S. and 

 W. Ireland. — B. M. St. Aiibin's Bay and St. Ouen's Bay, Jersey ; Coast 

 of Alderney ; Manorbeer Bay near Tenby, Pembrokeshire ; Ardrishaig, 

 Argyll ; Caher Mountain, Kerry ; Kilkee, Clare ; Killery Bay, Conne- 

 mara, Galway ; Barclay's Rock, Down. 



3. V. microspora Nyl. in Ann. Sci. Nat. ser. 4, iii. p. 175 

 (1855) (inch f. halophila). — Thallus olivaceous or blackish-green, 

 thin, continuousj gelatinous, smooth, effuse or determinate. 

 Perithecia moderate in size, numerous, crowded, semi-immersed, 

 black and shining, opening by a pore or somewhat depressed at 

 the apex ; perithecial wall dimidiate ; spores minute, ellipsoid 

 0,007-0,010 mm. long, 0,004-5 mm. thick ; hymenial gelatine 

 faintly wine-red with iodine. — Carroll in Journ. Bot. iii. p. 292 

 (1865) ; Cromb. Lich. Brit. p. 113. V. halopMla Nyl. ex Leight. 

 Lich. n. p. 413 ; ed. 3, p. 445 (excl. syns. V. aguatilis and 

 V. leptotera). V. Whichcotii Larb. ex Leight. //. c. V. littoralis 

 Tayl. in Hook. Lond. Journ. Bot. vi. p. 154 (1847)? 



Exsicc. Larb. Lich. Hb. n. 195 & Lich. Caesar, n. 100; Mudd 

 n. 970 ; Leight. n. 33 pro parte (as F. maura). 



Differs from V. mucosa, to which it is closely allied, in the thinner 

 thallus, and the more prominent perithecia. A specimen from Jersey 

 labelled V. littoralis Tayl. is intermixed and almost obscured by the 

 red encrusting alga, Hildenbrandtia rosea. Miiller-Argau (Flora 

 Ixxi. p. 550 (1888)) may have had a similar specimen, or part of a 

 specimen in view when he referred the whole of Taylor's V. littoralis 

 to the alga. 



Hab. On maritime rocks or stones washed by the sea. — Distr. 

 Rare on the sea coasts of the British Isles. — B. M. Greve-au-Lan9on 

 and St. Aubin's Bay, Jersey ; Baggy Point, Mudstone and Brixham, 

 Devon ; Luccombe Chine, I. of Wight ; Tenby, Pembrokeshire ; 

 Conway Bay, Carnarvonshire ; Black Hall Rocks, Hartlepool, 

 Durham. 



4. V. striatula Wahlenb. in Ach. Meth. Suppl. p. 21 (1803). 

 ■ — Thallus shining black or greenish-black, gelatinous, consisting 

 of numerous small elevated scattered ridges or lines irregularly 

 or dendritically arranged. Perithecia minute, shining black, 

 sessile, with a large depression at the apex ; perithecial wall 

 dimidiate ; spores 8 in the ascus, colourless, ellipsoid, small, 

 0,008-9 mm. long, 0,004-5 mm. thick ; hymenial gelatine wine- 

 red with iodine. — Hook, in Sm. Engl. Fl. v. p. 155 (excl. syn.) ; 

 Carroll in Journ. Bot. iii. p. 292 (1865) ; Cromb. Lich. Brit, 

 p. 113 ; Leight. Lich. Fl. p. 414 ; ed. 3, p. 445. Lithocia striatula 

 S. F. Gray Nat. Arr. i. p. 498 (1821) (excl. var.). 



The thalline ridges are scattered or in somewhat crowded groups. 

 They are formed from tips of the fungal hyphae, which are blackish- 



