LICHENS AND FUNGI OF OTAGO, NEW ZEALAND. 439 



specimens: which is described by Mudd (Manual, 271) as Verrucaria Hookeri 

 (Borr. E. Bot. Suppl. plate 2622 ; Leight. exs. 318) : and which has been vari- 

 ously mentioned by other authors as a Lecidea, Verrucaria, Endocarpon, and 

 Dacampia. 



9. Sphceria ventosaria, nov. sp. 



Parasitic on the thallus of Lecanora ventosa, Ach. — a Lichen which is closely 

 allied, especially in its apothecia, to Placopsis perrugosa. In 1856, I collected 

 this Sphseria and Lecanora largely in the Scottish Highlands ; and in 1860, in 

 some communications on the subject with Mr Curkey, I proposed for it, as a new 

 British species, and in reference to its habitat, the name S. ventosaria.* I have 

 not, however, up to this date, published a description of this parasite ; and 

 meanwhile, it appears to be the same plant, which is described by Mudd (Manual, 

 p. 307), as Microthelia ventosicola, he arranging it, though expressing great doubt 

 as to the true position of the genus Microthelia (p. 308), among Lichens. It is,' 

 however, says Mr Currey (in MSS. 1861), " a true Sphwria, but the species 

 is quite new to me. It presents a very interesting peculiarity of fructification. 

 Most of the Sphceriw have only 8 spores in each ascus. A very few have an 

 unlimited number; but the spores in these cases are almost colourless, and 

 always simple (i.e. not septate), and slightly curved. In your specimen the 

 spores are brown, 1-septate, elliptical, and very numerous in each ascus." Hepp 

 (exs. 644, sub nom. L. ventosa var. spermogonifera) figures and describes oblong- 

 ellipsoid spermatia, which do not agree with the ordinary spermatia of the 

 Lecanora, as observed by myself in 1856, or as described by Mudd (157); the latter 

 spermatia being cylindrical or acicular — that is. linear. 



There are many other Lichenicolous Sphceriw, which, however, have never 

 been properly studied, either by Lichenologists or Fungologists. Besides which, 

 species affecting parasitically the thallus or apothecia of both higher and lower 

 Lichens are to be found — and yet remain to be fully studied and accurately 

 determined — in the following Fungus-genera, inter alia : — 



Dothidea, Fr. 

 Stictis, Pers. 

 Spilomium, Nyl. 

 Sclerococcum, Fr. 

 Hymen obia, Nyl. 



Epilithia, Nyl. 

 Gassicurtia, Fee. 

 Illosporium, Mart. 

 Peziza, Link. 



Sp. 2. M. Cargilliana, nov. sp. (figs. 31 to 34). 



Parasitic on the apothecia of Parmelia perforata, Ach., which latter grows 



* Mr Currey proposed for it the name Sphceria lichenicola (in letter, January 28, 1861). But 

 this was unsuitable or inadmissible, not only because many other Sphserise are equally lichenicolous — 

 parasites on the thallus or apothecia of Lichens ; but the term itself had been previously applied by 

 Sommerfelt, and other of the earlier Lichenologists and Fungologists, inter alia, to various species 

 of Sphceria (S. epicymatia, Wallr.), and Microthelia (M. propinqua, Kb'rb., and M. pygmcea, Kb'rb. 

 Syst. Lich. Germ. 374). 



VOL. XXIV. PART II. 6 C 



