THE BRYOLOGIST. 
VOL. IX. 
November, 1906. 
No. 6. 
FURTHER NOTES ON CLADONIAS. VIII. 
Ciadonia botrytes, Cladonia caespiticia, and Cladonia delicata. 
Bruce Fink. 
There may be considerable doubt about a very close relationship 
between the species considered in this paper and those disposed of in the last 
one (Bry. 9 , July, 1906), and it may also be doubted whether the first species 
to receive consideration below stands very near to the second and third. 
Both Tuckerman and Wainio have placed Cladonia caespiticia and Cladonia 
delicata in close relationship, but both have seen fit to remove Cladonia 
botrytes far from these. Nor have these authors placed Cladonia botrytes 
near Cladonia mitrula, to which species it bears enough of superfi- 
cial resemblance so that one might easily pass the former species over as a 
small form of the latter, growing on wood. However, the Cladonias exhibit 
a most bewildering series of relationships, combining the various species in 
an inextricable network, and all arrangements must be regarded as more or 
less artificial. Doubtless the words of Dr. L. M. Underwood, regarding a 
similar difficulty in the classification of the Agaricales, or gill fungi, 
apply here, as follows: — “A part of the difficulty, however, is due to 
the fact that we have here an extensive evolution of comparatively recent 
origin in which very many of the steps of the progression are still inexist- 
ence” (Moulds, Mildews and Mushrooms, p. 129). Again, both Tuckerman 
and Wainio give considerable prominence to the paler fruit, in removing 
Cladonia botrytes far from Cladonia mitrula. However remotely related 
the two species may be, the difference in color can have little weight in 
determining. 
But passing the first species considered below, we are on surer ground, 
lichenists generally admitting the close relationship of the other two species' 
and that of both of these to Cladonia squamosa , which species we will con- 
sider’ in the next paper of this series. 
Finally, the writer is willing to let comparisons of the two descriptions, 
and better the study of specimens, speak further for the relationship of Cla- 
donia botrytes and Cladonia mitrula, the latter description to be found in 
the last paper of this series and the former to follow immediately. 
Cladonia botrytes (Hag.) Willd. FI. Berol. 365. 1787. 
Primary thallus commonly persistent, composed of crenate, incised or 
variously laciniate, fiat, involute or rarely convex, commonly ascending, 
scattered or rarely clustered squamules, which are 1-3 mm. long and of - about 
the same width, sea-green varying toward straw-colored or olivaceous above 
and white below, sometimes sparcely sorediate or granular. Podetia arising 
from the surface of the squamules, 2-18 mm. long, rather slender, cylindrical, 
The September BRYOLOGIST was issued September 1, 1906. 
