442 DR LAUDER LINDSAY ON THE 



thallus, as well as on the back or lower surface of the apothecia, of Neuropogon 

 Taylori, Hook. fil. 



3. L. Cladoniaria, Linds. (Sperm, p. 163, plate vii. figs. 14-16 ; Nyl. Enum. 

 Suppl. p. 359). Parasitic on the folioles of the horizontal thallus ; on the Podetia, 

 or on their scales ; in Cladonia uncialis, Hffm., and C. bellidiflora, Ach. 



4. Microthelia alciornaria, Linds. (Sperm, p. 161). 



5. M. prunastria, Linds. (Sperm, p. 137). 



6. M. Soloriiiaria, Linds. (Sperm, p. 175). Parasitic on the thallus of 

 Solorina crocea, Ach. 



7. M. Collemaria, Linds. (Sperm, p .272). Parasitic on the thallus of Collema 

 melcenum, Ach. 



Genus II. Phymatopsis, Tul. {Abrothallus, De Not.) 



I adopt Tulasne's name for the genus, as being much more correct and 

 appropriate than that of De Notaris, especially when applied to such forms 

 or species as P. dubia and its allies. The original name, Abrothattus (d/fyo'?, thin 

 or delicate), was based on an entire misconception — all species of the genus being 

 strictly athalline and parasitic on an alien thallus, as I have elsewhere pointed 

 out* But Tulasne's designation! (<pvfia, a tuber or excresence, and o\^?, like) 

 appropriately represents the external aspect of certain, at least, of its species. 

 Like Microthelia and Celidium, I regard the genus as in the meantime simply a 

 provisional one, made up of species of diverse character. The majority of 

 modern Lichenologists class the genus with the Lecidew, and include all its species, 

 so far as at present known. Nylandee, however, while he ranks A. oxysporus 

 as a Lecidea, removing it altogether from Abrothallus, considers A. Smithii a 

 Fungus. \ I am at a loss to understand on what principle such a distinction is 

 made. One of the principal supposed tests for distinguishing Lichens from Fungi 

 —the blue coloration of the hymenial Lichenine of the former under iodine — 

 cannot be depended on ; for, on the one hand, it does not follow that a plant, 

 whose hymenium does not give this reaction, is not a Lichen, or which does 

 give it, is not a Fungus ; while, on the other, I have sometimes met with blue 

 coloration in foreign forms or specimens of the same plant, which in Europe 

 does not usually yield any colorific reaction. 



Sp. 1. P. dubia (figs. 36-42). 



Parasitic on the apothecia of Usnea barbata, Fr., var. florida, L., as it grows 

 plentifully on trees in the Bush, Pelichet Bay, Dunedin ; a dwarf form of the Usnea, 

 with articulate branches, and in abundant fructification. Some of the mature 



* Monograph of Abrothallus, p. 7. f Mem. Lich. p. 113. 



J He also alters the name — both specific and generic — recording it as Habrothallus parasiticus, 

 Prod. 55. 



