LICHENS. 
29 
present species is distinguished amongst these by its broadly ex- 
panded, perfectly smooth, bright green thallus, presence of para- 
physes, and form of sterigmata and spermatia. Its nearest ally is 
V. microsporioides , Nyl. 
A careful search on our maritime rocks would very probably 
result in the discovery of marine lichens that are already recorded 
for other European shores. 
Vexxucaxia pulposa, Leight. 
In “ Lichen Flora,” Ed. 3, p. 457, this species is described as 
having numerous spores. An examination of Leighton’s type 
specimen, now in the Kew Herbarium, shows that the spores are 
eight in number, 3-septate, deeply constricted at the septa, dark 
vinous-brown, breakiug up into 32 cells at maturity. Asci clavate, 
with very long, slender pedicels ; paraphyses absent. 
Bibliography. 
A Study of the Natural Classification and Morphology of the 
Lichens of Brazil. — Dr. E. A. Wainio, in an independent publica- 
tion (Helsingfors), indicates the outlines of a new system of classi- 
fication of lichens, based on the critical examination of a collection 
made by the author in Brazil. The chief features of the new 
system are discussed under the following headings : — 
Introduction. — The discovery of the complex nature of lichens, 
which consist of forms of Ascophytes (Ascomycetes), that live in 
a state of symbiosis with algas (gonidia), has deprived all existing 
schemes of classification of their fundamental base, which rested on 
the false hypothesis that the gonidia were formed from the hyphal 
portion of the structure, hence such schemes convey false impres- 
sions as to the inter-relationship between Lichens, Fungi, and 
Algas. 
A more or less marked difference in the structure of the gonidia, 
unless accompanied by differences in the organs formed by the 
hyphae, cannot be considered as affording a sufficient base for the 
establishment of principal groups. 
Do Lichens form a natural group distinct from the Ascomycetes ? 
— Up to the present time the difference in the organs of fecunda- 
tion has been considered as one of the distinctive marks between 
Lichens and Ascomycetes. The spermatia developed in the sper- 
mogonia are generally considered as the male organs of fecunda- 
tion in Lichens, the carpogonia with their ascogonia and 
trichogynes, discovered by Stahl, being considered as the female 
organs. In the Ascomycetes, on the contrary, the pollinodia and 
ascogonia are usually considered as the sexual organs. 
The author does not accept the sexual nature of the organs men- 
tioned above for the following reasons : — (1) The formation of 
ascospores in numerous species without any previous fecundation. 
(2) The discovery by Moller that the spermatia of lichens ger- 
