Additions to the Lichen Flora of Queensland. (>7 



Again, the few specimens found growing on earth rarely 

 show fructification, or, if so, the spores are seldom fully 

 developed; and the inference from this is, that the soil is 

 porous or sandy, and has a very meagre, or, it may be, dis- 

 continuous substratum of clay. 



3rd. The dry season or seasons are very dry, and with 

 few or short interruptions of rain, such, indeed, as can 

 scarcely perceptibly advance the development of lichens, 

 whose growth at the quickest is much slower than that 

 of any other section of botany. 



4th. A considerable portion of the lichens show, at first 

 sight, fully developed conditions ; but a microscopic exami- 

 nation reveals the fact that, in many, the vegetative 

 processes are all past, and the spores gone, although the 

 apothecia look fresh and plump. This phenomenon also 

 goes towards confirming my previous assertions of the 

 atmospheric conditions, inasmuch as the exceptional 

 dryness is favourable to the preservation of old lichens ; 

 while in moister, colder countries, maceration and con- 

 sequent disintegration of dead vegetable tissues soon serve 

 to dissipate the whole. 



There are other minor considerations that tend to the 

 same conclusions. On the whole, then, it cannot be said 

 that the atmospheric conditions of the neighbourhood of 

 Brisbane are favourable to the growth and development, 

 as well as spread, of lichens. 



SlROSIPHON PULVINATUS, S r p. nOV. 



Thallus niger vel fusco-niger, effusus, minute coralloideo- 

 compactus, pulvinulos plus minus confertos (latit. usque ad 

 3 mm.) formans, et filamenta, irregularia, ramosula (latit. 

 *02 — 03 mm.), tomentoso-intricata sistens, filamentis extus 

 omnino hyalinis (non cellulosis) et gonimia majuscula sordide 

 violacea vel etiam sordida, 1 — 4 transverse sita continen- 

 tibus. 



Supra thallum et apothecia Lecidece foliatce parasiticus. 



The violaceous colour of the gonimia is changed by K to 

 a greenish-yellow. 



This plant, which has close affinities to Sirosiphon, has 

 puzzled me much, and, in the absence of fructification, has 

 been placed here only provisionally. 



Obkyzum scabkosum, sp. nov. 



Parasiticum supra thallum cujusclam collematis apothecia 

 minuta immersa extus prominula rugosula, perithecio 

 dimidiatim nigro ; sporse 8 nse incolores, obtuse fusiformes, 



F 2 



