424 DR LAUDER LINDSAY ON THL 



a papilla (figs. 3, 4, b) ; or into a ragged, black, rent-like mouth : the apex of 

 the epidermal papilla falling away, and the margins of the torn or fissured 

 leaf-epidermis fringing the irregular remanent basilar cavity (fig. 2 b). The 

 upper half of the perithecium is formed by the epidermis of the Phormium, which 

 is gradually elevated, as the Fungus is developed and approaches maturity ; and 

 this epidermal papilla is perforated apicially by the ostiole of the Sphceria, the 

 discharge outlet for its spores (fig. 3). The lower half of the perithecium is sub- 

 epidermal, seated in the subjacent fibro-cellular tissues of the Phormium-le&f. 

 Maceration causes the site of the perithecium to become more apparent ; the epi- 

 dermis of the Phormium becomes detached, as a somewhat translucent thin 

 membrane (fig. 4 c), from the subjacent tissues, carrying with it the projecting 

 papilla, which contains the ostiole and upper half of the perithecium ; while the 

 black, circumscribed base remains as an irregular mass, resembling somewhat 

 the old Lichen-genus Pyrenothea (fig. 4 b, 2 b d). Moisture or maceration, more- 

 over, alters the appearance of the epidermal papilla, which now becomes wholly 

 black, instead of exhibiting a mere black ostiole and ring (fig. 2 c). The epi- 

 dermal papilla frequently appears to fall off, leaving a black ring alone, as 

 an indication of its former presence — of its medial circumference. 



The perithecia vary in size, number, and closeness of aggregation. For the 

 most part, they are, to the naked eye, punctiform, greatly crowded, and frequently 

 confluent or sub-confluent. Normally, they are round, but from pressure on each 

 other in a state of close aggregation, they become ellipsoid, or otherwise variously 

 elongated. Sometimes they are flattened on the surface or apex, and they then 

 have, under the lens, somewhat the aspect (save as to colour and size) of the 

 wart-like apothecia of a Pertusaria, the epidermis of the Phormium appearing as 

 if covered with a series of minute blisters. 



Their position is equally on and between the rugse and furrows, which mark 

 the surface of the Phormium leaf. Occasionally they are disposed in rows, espe- 

 cially when they occur in the leaf-furrows. More generally, their distribution is 

 quite irregular or scattered. 



Notwithstanding many examinations, I have not succeeded in satisfying my- 

 self as to the form and size of the theca?, which are extremely delicate and hya- 

 line. But, in a few cases, the spores were abundant and distinct. Those I saw 

 were normally ellipsoid, 6 to 8 locular ; colourless ; hyaline ; with a very deli- 

 cate envelope; -0003" to -00025" broad, and -0016" to -0013" long; resembling 

 closely the septate spores of many Lichens (fig. 5). Occasionally (apparently only 

 aged ones), I found them slightly curved, a condition which is likewise common in 

 the old state of the fusiform and ellipsoid spores of Lichens ; but this appeared to 

 me to be an accidental condition, or one depending on age. Occasionally, inter- 

 mixed with the normal fully developed spores, were half spores, apparently the 

 resu lt — if not, sometimes at least, of artificial division by friction of the glass 



