(33) 
Ricasolia, Sticta, et Stictina, Nyl. Syn. 1, p. 382, t. 8, f. 446; Lich. 
Scand. p. 92; in Prodr. Fl. N. Gran. p. 17. 
Apothecia scutellzeformia, submarginalia, elevata, subinde nigri- 
cantia. Spore e fusiformi aciculares, bi-quadri-pluriloculares, fus- 
cescentes 1. incolores. Spermatia oblonga, apice utroque incrassata; 
sterigmatibus multi-articulatis. Thallus frondoso-foliaceus, varie 
lobatus, orbiculatus 1. dein protensus, coriaceo-cartilagineus, subtus 
villosus cyphellis maculisve seepius interspersis. Stratum gonimi- 
cum e gonidiis solitis aut collogonidiis constitutum. 
The spores of Sticta are often at length colourless, and so described, 
as in a large part of Sticta, Nyl. Syn., and in the second section of 
Stictina of the same author, contrasting in this way with the first, but 
the distinction is evidently only a relative one; and the genus must be 
admitted to show throughout, though doubtless here more and here less, 
the same evident tendency to coloration. 
As respects its position in the tribe, the genus is generally placed as 
if mediating between the frondose lichens (Peltigerci proper) and the 
foliaceous ones (Purmelici) but the texture and other features of the 
thallus refer it to the former rather than the latter; not to speak of the 
(atypical) divergence in colour, of the spores, which seems best explain- 
able in connection with those of Peltigera. And Sticta, for its part, as 
will hereafter be seen, assists us in explaining the often puzzling structural 
anomalies of the properly frondose genera. Not to delay here over an 
extended comparison of species, it may at least be said that the veiny 
variegation of the under side of Peltigera (as of P. horizontalis) is ele- 
gantly simulated in Sticta dissecta (S. Peltigera, Del.) and S. Fendleri, 
Mont., as also in S. scrobiculata and pulmonaria; and the prominent 
nerves of Solorina crocea and Peltigera venosa by the similar, though oth- 
erwise conditioned processes of Sticta Filiz. And the resemblance indeed, 
as to upper surface, apothecia and their place of attachment, and even 
spores of S. peltigerella, Nyl., (Lindig Herb. N. Gran. n. 2533) to Peltigera 
venosa is too striking wholly to escape even casual attention. Tulasne 
(Mém. Lich. p. 20) has given several illustrations of the anatomical con- 
gruity of the members of the family, as here taken; and Schwendener 
(1. c.) has, later, conclusively shown that Sticta, from the same point of 
view, confined to the thallus, possesses absolutely no characters to distin- 
1 T observe this in 8. Lenormandii, tomentosa, quercizans, Boschiana, Filix, 
retigera, pulmonaria, laciniata, damecornis, Urvillei, and orygmea, as also in 
S. amplissima and pallida; in many of which notwithstanding, perfect spores oc- 
cur, perhaps more commonly, colourless, affording to that extent a diagnostic 
difference, and a suggestion of what I have ventured here to regard their typical 
character. 
5 
