264 Transactions. — Botany. 



the edge of the ultimate segments, usually two apart — one at each angle, . 

 sometimes three on a hroad, and one only central on a narrow, segment ; 

 at first light brown, closed, with a finely puberulent covering, afterwards 

 the minute ostiole opens, and the black shining capitulum is protruded. 



Sometimes the thallus is largely coloured bright red on both surfaces, as 

 if red ink had been splashed over it ; this colour is permanent. 



Hah. On trunks of Fagus solandri, forests near Norsewood, County of 

 Waipawa; 1880-84: W.C. 



Obs. I have known this pretty species for many years, but always (until 

 this year) barren. Specimens that I had long ago sent to England in that 

 state, were supposed to be small ones of S. australe, Laur. (S. compressum, 

 Ach.), but I never could bring myself to believe it, the difference being so great 

 between them, especially when closely compared together in a living state. 

 It is, however, very rarely found in fruit, like some of its European congeners. 

 2. Sphmrop>horon (?) stereoeauloides, Nyl. 



Plant ascending, bushy, diffuse, 8-10 inches diameter ; height 4-5 

 inches ; main stems very stout, sub -cylindrical, ^ inch circumference near 

 base, 6-8 springing separately from one root-stock or thick and flat broad 

 disc 1 inch diameter ; spreading, prostrate, naked below and adhering by 

 fresh large rooting discs ; much and thickly branched above, transversely 

 and finely fissured ; branches flatfish, sub-flabellate, and dichotomous, 

 naked here and there on upper and under surfaces but not on the sides ; 

 general colour greyish-white, stems more white with a light pinkish tinge ; 

 branchlets numerous crowded, densely covered with many short compound 

 spurs or branchlets, composed of cylindrical and sub-angular obtuse and 

 clavate fibrils that are patent sessile and fascicled, and sometimes coalescent, 

 bearing at tips small black circular soredia. Apothecia large, globular, 1-3 

 lines diameter on tips of branches, mostly solitary sometimes 2-3 together, 

 much broader than branch or peduncle, which is naked, sub-terete and 

 lacunose, 1-2 lines long ; receptacle cernuous, smooth and naked or slightly 

 lacunose on the outside, bursting irregularly, containing numerous globose 

 black rough spores entangled in a mass of thin flat hairs; " diameter of 

 spores *01 mm" (Dr. Knight). Sph. robustum, Col. 



Hab. Stony declivities in hilly forests, west side of highway, Seventy- 

 mile Bush, County of Waipawa; 1882: W.C. And on east slopes of 

 Ruahine Range (same county) : 1884 : Mr. A. Hamilton. 



Obs. This fine Lichen has given Dr. Knight and myself some study 

 and research. Believing it to be another new species of this small and 

 peculiar genus, I early referred a specimen of it to Dr. Knight's superior 

 judgment, who agreed with me that it was a new species, and closely allied 

 to Spharophoron stereoeauloides of Nylander. Subsequently, however, on my 



