NEPHROMA. 



161 



Nat. Ord. IV. PELTIDEACE2E. 



Tarn. Char. Thallus foliaceous, coriaceous or membranaceous, 

 prostrate or ascending, laciniate-lobate, below tomentose or 

 veined, affixed to base of support loosely or interruptedly by 

 fibrils. Apothecium peltate, affixed horizontally or vertically to 

 thalline lobes. 



Genus I. NEPHROMA, AcL 



Gen. Char. Thallus somewhat villous below ; apothecium reni- 

 form, affixed to under side of produced and ascending extremities 

 of thalline lobules; thalamium always naked. (Name from 

 ve<£pos, the kidneys.) 



This genus has much the habit of Peltigera, but is easily 

 distinguished by the form and position of the apothecium. 



1. Nephroma resupinatum (so called from the fruit 

 being placed at the back of the thallus, facing downwards : 

 resupino, to turn upside down). Thallus glaucous or 

 brownish, — below paler, and somewhat tomentose or naked, 

 — prostrate; lacinise minute, multi-lobular ; lobes rounded, 

 subcrenate ; apothecia chestnut- coloured, largeish. (E. B. 

 305 is a tomentose form.) The thallus is sometimes sore- 

 diiferous. (E. B. 2360.) 



A subalpine species, growing on the ground, on rocks 



M 



