Fink: Problems of North American Lichenology 31 



type species for Verrucaria, Lichen ericetorum L. Sp. PI. 2 : 

 1 141. 1753, which is, according to Wainio (Soc. Faun. Fl. 

 Fenn. 14:20. 1888), identical with our Icmadophila (Bceomyces) 

 (EYuginosa, which is in turn the type of Ichmadophila Ehrh. Beitr. 

 Naturk. 4: 147. 1789. Among foliose and fruticose genera we 

 have Physica fastigiata (Pers.) Ach. Lich. Suec. Prod. 175, 

 255. 1798. = Ramalina calicaris (L.) Fr. ; Physcia thus taking 

 precedence over Ramalina, being the older name, though final 

 disposition must as in all other similar instances await typifica- 

 tion of all lichen genera. Again, the type of the well established 

 genus Rinodina is Rinodina atra (Huds.) S. F. Gray, Nat. Arr. 

 Brit. PI. 1 : 448. 1821 (= Lecanora atra). Lecanora, being older, 

 would replace Rinodina in strict application of the rules of 

 priority, but examination of the writings of Acharius shows that 

 he has placed Gyalecta, Lecanora, and Parmelia in a tangle by 

 citing for types of all three genera lichens belonging to Leca- 

 nora, according to the modern conception of that genus, based 

 upon the author's type. Lack of space forbids a discussion of 

 the status of the three genera; and further instances of difficul- 

 ties met in typifying lichen genera without full knowledge of all 

 the genera would be out of place here. 



The work of typifying lichen species is quite as important. 

 We can not arrive at anything like finality regarding our species 

 until the types, largely in European herbaria, have been examined. 

 We have more or less of synonymy, largely handed on from 

 author to author, but synonymy given by any author may be re- 

 garded as unreliable, unless based upon the examination of type 

 specimens by him. Indeed, the sooner the practice of copying 

 citations and long lists of synonyms from other authors is 

 abandoned the better. An author may be pardoned for citing 

 the first name of a species, since this seems necessary, but he 

 had better stop there unless he has seen the type specimens upon 

 which his synonymy rests. 



In conclusion, some problems not distinctively American may 

 be discussed briefly. First among these we shall consider lichen 

 ecology. Dr. H. C. Cowles* has well said : " The speaker has 



* Cowles, H. C. The Work of the Year 1907 in Ecology. Science 19 

 (N. S.) : 879-925. 1904- 



