noii <•' i 





,5^4 CRYPTOGAMIA ALGiE. 



^, _ ( -.;.. :,, fopictiaies ?. blackifli colour. The ftalks at firft 

 are very fmall and round,, afterwards broader 

 and comprefs'd, not hollow within, but full of 

 ,,. v. ., ..- i a ..white fpongy pith. They are divided and 

 ^..,1-.. ' fubdivided into ina,ny fine branches, which arc 

 .^ T-.. widely fpread, the angles of the divarications 



^ ^" being obtufe and roundifh. The extremities of 



" " the branches terminate in fmall fhort acute fpincs 



or forks. The fubftance of the ftalks is rigid 

 and tough, fomewhat brittle when dry, their 

 furface fmooth and gloify, but in the larger 

 and older fpecimens befet around with nume- 

 rous very minute innocent fpinules, efpecially 

 about the fummits of the branches, which ap- 

 tyk.ii-L- -■■ pear on that account rough and hifpid. Ths 

 young plants are generally deftitute of thefe 

 ^l:-.-; ."iii^y fpinules, and terminate only with fhort acute 

 ^ -■-"'' '' horns or forks. 



The fruftifications are very rarely found. They 

 •-ji- - •-• '■•' '^grow upon the extremities of the branches, in 

 .doc:Uj; ■ • ^'thc fhape of broad flat fmooth fhields, of the 

 -orif^v t^ . \ 'i- fame colour as the leaves, their edges unequally 

 defiex'd, and furrounded with fpinules. 

 The plants vary from half an inch to an inch and 

 .•TV, -,.0.-,..', ..a half in height; and the fmallcft fpecimens 

 . > ; i. /i i^'l '.are the m..c5ft crowded or matted together. 

 Ila't fi '"0 -Some authors have fuppofed this Lichen to be only 

 the joung plants of tha L. IJl&ndktis abovc- 

 •■".-•'''• -mentioned. Sec No, 41. 



