420 DR LAUDER LINDSAY ON THE 



convex on the one side, and straight on the other (plano-convex) (c); sometimes 

 where septa exist in the old state, there are constrictions opposite each of 

 generally 3-septa. The colour varies from pale olive (a) to deep brown (c), 

 according to age ; darkness of tint, as is generally the case in the spores of lichens, 

 being proportionate to age. For the most part, especially in the young spores, 

 there are no distinct septa (a) ; but a number of loculi, varying from 4 to 8 (most 

 frequently 4), which are sometimes globose, sometimes lenticular or quadrilateral, 

 connected or separate, according apparently to age ; sometimes becoming longi- 

 tudinally divided, giving the spore a sub-muriform character (c). 



27. Ricasolia Jierbacea, DN., var. adscripta, Nyl., Lich. N.Z., 248 (fig. 33). 



On the bark of dead trees, Saddlehill Bush ; bearing both apothecia and sper- 

 mogones. There are also specimens from Tarndale, Nelson, ex Herb. Dr Sin- 

 clair, of Auckland ; some bearing apothecia, others sterile. 



The plant appears to me hardly to deserve a separate name as a variety ; I 

 do not see wherein it differs sufficiently from its type. The paraphyses are sub- 

 discrete, filiform, united by yellow tuberculated tips. The thecal are 8-spored, 

 blue with iodine ; -0036" long, and -0009'' broad. The sjjores (fig. 33) are more or 

 less fusiform, 1-septate; sometimes with the loculi of unequal size {b), colourless 

 or pale yellow ; -0009'' long, and -00025'' broad. The spermogones are those of the 

 type, which I have elsewhere described.* 



28. Sticta subcoriacea, Nyl., Lich. N.Z., 247 (figs. 34-36). 



On trees, Saddlehill Bush ; bearing both apothecia and spermogones ; also 

 from Wellington, sent me by Dr Muller of Melbourne (identical in external 

 characters with my Otago specimens). 



The plant has much of the aspect, and most of the general external characters 

 of various Ricasolia?, e.g., R. herbacea, DN., and R. coriacea, Hook, and Tayl. It 

 seems indeed a connecting link between the genera Sticta and Ricasolia. The 

 main difference consists in the presence in the Sticta of cypliellce ; but in some 

 Sticta? these are absent, or they (or Pseudc-cyphellset) occur on the upper instead 

 of lower surface of the thallus {e.g., in the following species S. episticta, Nyl.) The 

 mere presence or absence of cypliellce is not, I think, a sufficient character for the 

 separation as genera of Ricasolia and Stictina from Sticta. Not unfrequently in 

 the same species of either of these genera, cyphellge occur or not. In my Otago 

 specimens of Ricasolia coriacea occur a few cyphellse, which are exactly like 

 those of S. subcoriacea. I do not know, indeed, in what essentials S. subcoriacea 



* " Mem. Spermogones," p. 202, Plate X. figs. 6-11. 



•j- I am not satisfied that there is any essential distinction (anatomical, morphological, or func- 

 tional) between Cyphellce and Pseudo-cyphellcE. Though the former are typically urceolate and 

 smooth, they become pulverulent and shallow ; and pass thus, by imperceptible gradations, into the 

 latter. ( Vide " History of British Lichens," 1856, pp. 42-336.) 



