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A NEW GENUS OF ALPINE LICHENS 



fix. ]. H. \\ ii. i. is, National Herbarium of Victoria 



LSXEACE.K 

 Bibbya 7, //. Willis; 



genu> novum austrn-alpinum a Paefylnia X\l. prnximum 

 ditTert sporis aeicularibus nmltiseptatis ( spuria DactyliuiC 

 unicellulares globosa- vel ellipsoidea- ) . 



Thallus fruticosus. aliquanto radiatus. sparse et irregularitor ramosus [in 

 specie unica usque ad 15 mm. altus, glaber, infra ncbraceus, Mipra amhusto- 

 brunnescens nitens. pulvinos madrepnnformes vel sub-cerebriformes usque 

 ad 10 cm. in latitudine formans. inter musens alpinos — pnecipue Andre<cw 

 species — seetis rupes erescens]. Rami late teres, cavernosi, dactyliformes, 

 sursum insigniter et irregularitcr inflati, cmiferti ; apices perobttisi ( sub- 

 orbiculati). -sparse pcrtusi. Cortex crassus (50-150 mic. ), bypbis ad super 

 ficiein perpendiculatis gelifactus. Medulla alba, ex liypliis laxe intertextis 

 et irregulariter ramosis (quisque 2-4 mic, diam. ) coiiMstens, centrum 

 excavatum relinquens. Apotheeia terminalia. discuidea lecannroidea, rotunda 

 vel distorta [in specie unica usque ad 4 mm. lata, subnigra, hypotlicciu bet? 

 brimne(i|. amphitbecio mani teste fnrmato sed paratbecio siibnullo. Asci 

 clavato-cylindrati, usque ad 70 mic. lnngi. apice obtusi obnubilantes. 

 Ascosf>or<c multiseptata?. byalina-, obtuse virgifnrmes [in specie unica 35-40 

 X 3 mic.]. 



Hospes algcnsis protococcnideus. 



GENOTYPUS: B. muelleri (V. R, M. Wilson) combinatio nova- 

 species unica. 

 [Sipjmfr muellen F. R. M. Wilsun in t'iet. Xat. 6: 1/9 (Apr. 1890)]. 



SITUS: Victoria — Mt. Hotbam. inter muscos ad rupes subalpinas alt. 

 6000' (F. R. M. Wilson, 17 Jan. 1890— HOLOTYPUS infertilis in MEL) ; 

 Bogong Higb Plains, "in cracks of granitic rocks at beads of Middle 

 Creek", circ. 5500' (H. T, Clifford 26 Jan. 1948— MEL) ; Mt. Stirling, 

 "on granite boulders of eastern scarp", circ. 5600' (J. II. Willis, 8 Mar. 

 1953— MEL). 



COMBINED GEXERIC-SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION 

 BIBBYA MIELLERI (F. R. M. Wilson) J. II. Willis 



Thallus fruticosc, to 15 nun. high, sparingly and irregularly 

 hranched. somewhat radiate, smooth and polished, ochraceous 

 beneath, shiny and becoming scorched brown above, forming stone- 

 coral -like or rather brain-like cushions (to 10 cm. in extent) 

 which grow amongst and upon alpine mosses — chiefly Andrccca 

 species — on rock surfaces. Branches broadly terete, hollow, finger- 

 like, curiously and irregularly inflated upwards, densely compacted; 

 apices very obtuse and rounded, bearing a few large pits. Cortex 

 thick (0 05-015 mm.), gelified, with hypha? perpendicular to the 

 surface. Medulla white, of rather loosely interwoven and irregularly 

 branched hyplue ( 2-4 mic. diameter ) , leaving the centre hollow ; 

 K — , C — . Apotheeia terminal, discoid and leeanorine, round or 

 variously distorted, up to 4 mm. wide, almost black, with bright 

 brownish hypothecium ; amphitheeium well -developed, but prac- 



