303 ' Transactions. — Botany. 



this variety of St. condensation, where the apothecia do not betray the slightest 

 traces of stipites, and which, in the absence of intermediate states, I am 

 strongly inclined to elevate to the rank of a species, more especially as the 

 spores are shorter and thicker than any belonging to this species hitherto seen. 

 In St. striatum, Bab., as well as in one or two others, are seen spores, very 

 much resembling those of the present lichen, although not more than half 



their length. 



means 



correspond generally to those seen in species of the same genus. 



The relationship of this lichen to Bceomyces is less obvious, and, but for 

 Dr. Nylander's assertion, (Synop. p. 1 75) and a certain prima facie resemblance, 

 I would not have mentioned this genus as analogous, indeed in the light of the 

 present plant I can assert, with considerable confidence, that Gomphillus has 

 much stronger affinities to Stereocaulon than to Baiomyces. 



In plants such as the present it is extremely foolish to dogmatize in the 

 matter of classification, and we are taught the lesson that nature is not to be 

 cramped and confined by any such well defined limits as our modern classifiers 

 would fain lead us to believe. 



Stereocaulon buc/ianani, Strn. 



TJiallus tenuis effusus, cinerascens vel cincreo-vh-escens, e gonidiis 



conglomeratis mediocribus et filamentis irregularibus, fere omnino constans ; 



apothecia majuscula (latit. 1-2 millim.), sessilia vel elevato-sessilia, interdum 



conglomerata, fusca (junioribus pallidis et nonnihil turbinatis), convexa et 



immarginata, intus fuscescentia, textura tenaci cornea, Sporce 8na>, in thecis 



cylindricis, longissima;, filiformes, 40-50-septatse, longit. 0-16-0-22 millim., 



crassit. circa 0-003-0-004 niillim. ; paraphyses haud distincta?. Gelatina 



hymenialis iodo leviter cserulescens (apicibus thecarum intensius tinctis) dein 

 rufescens. 



Thallus thin granular cinerascent or cinereo-virescent effuse, composed 

 almost entirely of conglomerated gonidia of a medium size and an irregular 

 fibrous stroma ; apothecia rather above average sessile or elevato-sessile fuscous, 

 in a younger state much paler and then somewhat turbinate, convex and 

 immarginate, fuscescent within and of a tenacious horny texture ; spores 8, in 

 cylindrical asci, very long and filiform, 40-50-septate, and measuring 0-16-0-2 

 by -003-0- 004 of a millim., paraphyses not distinct. Hymeneal gelatine slightly 

 cserulescent with iodine, the apices of the asci more deeply tinted, the whole 

 assuming afterwards a rufescent tint. 



Xotes on Stereocaulon buchanani, Stirton. 

 By Charles Kmght, F.R.C.S., F.L.S. 



The valnalilp ronAi^ r.f T»™ ci:.i ._ -n i .... 



