MELITTOSPOEIUM. 89 



pressed ; asci broadly clavale, apex ratlier acute ; spores 8, 

 irregularly biseriate, clavate or clavate- fusiform, 6-7-sep- 

 tate, becoming muriform, hyaline, 28-44 x 5—9 /x. ; para- 

 physes filiform, adherent. 



Stictis pteridina, Phil, & Buck., in Buckpall's Fung. Bristol, 

 pt. vi. p. 5, t. 1, fig. 6 ; Phil., Brit. Disc, p. 384. 



On bracken stem. 



Fam. Ill, PATELLARIEAE. 



Ascophore minute, superficial at maturity, sessile, usually 

 discoid, with a blunt margin or immarginate, glabrous, 

 blackish, rarely clear-coloured, rather homy when dry ; 

 asci 2-4— 6— 8-spored ; spores hyaline or coloured, continuous 

 or 1-many-septate ; paraphyses present. 



The present family is intermediate between Phacidieae 

 and Dermateae, differing from the former in being more 

 superficial at maturity and also in being patellate or discoid. 

 From the latter in being glabrous, usually blackish, and not 

 of a tough, corky consistency. 



The genera Celidium and Abrothallus are parasitic on 

 lichens and hepatics ; the remainder are saprophytic, 

 growing on wood, bark, &c. 



ANALYSIS OF THE GENEBA. 



A. Spores continuous. 



* Spores hyaline. 



Fatiuella. Ascus containing 8 spores. 



Biatorella. Ascus containing innumerable, very minute 

 spores. 



Lagerheima. 



Fatellea. 



** Spores hrown. 



B. Spores l-septate. 

 * Spores hyaline. 



