LICHENS AND FUNGI OF OTAGO, NEW ZEALAND. 421 



differs from Ricasolia coriacea, save as to the greater size of thallus, and the more 

 general presence of cyphellse in the former. Both plants, moreover, grow in the 

 same habitat, though the Ricasolia is more generally found fertile than the 

 Sticta. 



There is the same rigidity of thallus, the same white-pilose apothecia and 

 thaline margins. Under water, the lower surface of the thallus of the Sticta 

 exhibits well its beautiful velvety-pilose character, while the upper surface 

 assumes a greenish tint. 



In my Otago specimens the hymenium gives a beautiful blue with iodine. 

 The paraphyses (fig. 34, b) are sub-discrete, united by yellowish tuberculated heads, 

 which are covered by a colourless membrane (epithecium) (a). The thecal (c) are 

 8-spored ; like the hymenium, blue with iodine ; from -0024'' to -0036'' long, and 

 00045'' to 0009" broad. The spores (fig. 35) are more or less ellipsoid, 1-septate ; 

 0006'' to -0009'' long, and 0003 broad ; of olive (b) or brown {a c) colour, and other- 

 wise resembling the spores of S. fossulata, Duf. 



In Wellington specimens, the thecce are -0024" to -0030" long, and -0008'' broad ; 

 the spores (fig. 36) -0010'' long, and '00045" broad ; broadly ellipsoid or ellipsoid- 

 oblong; 1 or 3-septate, according to age; brown. In young apothecia and 

 within their thecse, they are almost uniformly 1-septate, and more or less 

 deep brown in colour; but in old apothecia and out of their thecse, they are 

 frequently, if not generally (typically), 4-locular or 3-septate {b). In other 

 respects, Wellington and Otago specimens agree in internal as well as external 

 characters. 



29. 8. episticta, Nyl., Lich. N.Z., 248. 



On trees, Saddlehill Bush ; on columnar basalt, Greenisland Bluff. 



The saxicolous forms have much the aspect of thick, rigid, coriaceous states 

 of Parmelia saxatilis, Ach. ; while the corticolous ones resemble Ricasolia her- 

 bacea, DN. 



In this species there is a reversal of the ordinary position of the Pseudo- 

 cyphellw, which are here on the upper surface of the thallus, and being whitish, 

 are somewhat conspicuous on the buff-coloured epithallus (cortical tissue). 

 Corresponding to the Pseudo-cyphellse above, the under surface of the thallus 

 is marked by a series of minute buttons or papillse of the same pale reddish- 

 brown colour as the under surface of the thallus, and nestling among the fine 

 fibrillose tomentum, with which it is copiously covered. On the upper surface 

 there occasionally occur small sub-globose isidia or cephalodia, of a bright gam- 

 boge-yellow colour. 



All my specimens are sterile, so that I have had no opportunity of examining 

 its apothecia or spermogones. 



