COLLEMACEiE. 



Filamentous, or foliaceous gelatinous-conglutinate plants without dis- 

 crete layers. Sporidia included in asci, and immersed in a thalamium, 

 which is contained either in a thalline exciple or a proper exciple. 



Several genera are included here formerly referred to Lichenes, but 

 separated by Fries, and with other genera constituted a distinct family, 

 intermediate between Lichenes and aquatic Algse. Collema and Lep- 

 togium may be said to have the thallus of Phyceae with the apothecia 

 of Lichenes, and Ephebe is considered by Fries nearly related to the 

 Byssi . 



Synopsis. 



Tribe L COLLEMEjE, Fr. — Thallus gelatinous-conglutinate, 

 caulescent or foliaceous. 



1. Collema. Apothecia scutelliform, with a thalline exciple. 



2. Leptogium. Apothecia scutelliform, with a proper exciple. 

 Tribe II. EPHEBIDEjE. — Thallus filamentous, not gelatinous. 



3. Ephebe. Apothecia scutelliform, with a thalline exciple. 



Tribe I. COLLEMEJ:, Fr. 



I. COLLEMA, Hoffm. 



Apothecia at first subglobose, becoming at length discoid-open and 

 scutelliform, with a thalline exciple. Thallus corneous-gelatinous, 

 somewhat pulpy, of a moniliform-filamentous texture, variously lobed. 



* Thallus imbricate-plicate, becoming thick and turgid when wet. 



1. C. pulposum, Ach. Thallus thick, suborbicular, very compact, 

 blackish-green, of numerous, somewhat imbricate, plicate, rather entire 

 or repand-crenate, erectish lobes, those of the circumference larger, 

 somewhat appressed ; apothecia somewhat crowded, slightly concave, 

 rufous, with an elevated, irregular margin. Ach. Syn. p. 311. Schcer.f 

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