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The following is a free translation of the earliest description of H.capitatum: 
Thallus foliaceous, imbricated, above sordid-olivaceous, beneath grayish- 
white; podetia simple, or rarely with the apices shortly divided, sub- stram- 
ineous : apothecia solitary or conglomerate, sub-globose “ rubiginosa-rufis.” 
Aside from the color of the podetia and apothecia the description answers 
very well for that of Cl. mitrula Specimens of Cl. mitrula with straw- 
colored podetia and reddish apothecia are sometimes seen, but the characteris- 
tic color for the latter is from flesh through reddish-brown to brown. A single 
example of Cl. mllri^lamight be selected from an extended series with very 
light colored podetia and rufescent fruit, agreeing in all other respects with 
the description of Michaux, but no specimens have yet been examined by 
the writer which were possessed of distinctly red apothecia. There are three 
considerations pointing toward the equivalency of Cl. mil7'ula with Helo- 
podium capitatum. The first is the general agreement of Cl. mitrula with 
the description of Michaux’s plant. The second lies in the fact that while 
Schweinitz, Ravenel, Curtis and Green have examined the Carolina region 
with considerable thoroughness, and Cl. 7nitrulaha.s 3d. least been collected 
by the last three, no worker examining their material has discriminated 
Helopodiu77i capitatu77i. Lastly, certain European authorities profess to 
find Cl. leplophylla represented in material coming to their notice and 
originating in America, when such passes with our own students as 
unquestionable Cl. mitrula. It is improbable that the plant of Michaux has 
been overlooked in the field, for judging by his list the old botanist only 
collected and recorded the more conspicuous lichens. 
Searching for a reason why Muller, Wanio and others have saluted 
■certain examples of our Cl. 77iitrula sls, Cl. leplophylla, the curious discov- 
ery is made that while the Cl. leplophylla of England, where it was first 
found, is totally unlike Cl. mitrula in any stage of its growth, the Cl. lepto- 
phylla of continental Europe approximates in many particulars juvenile 
conditions of our plant. This resemblance extends to the convexity and 
shape of the thalline scales, stature (small forms of Cl. mitrTila only)costate 
and fissured podetia, the occasional short branched apices, color of the 
podetia, and the cortical character and color of the podetia in rather a less 
degree. With hydrate of potash Cl. leplophylla affords the same puzzling 
and discrepant reactions to be noted with Cl. mitrula. Of Cl. leplophylla, 
Wainio, Sanstede, Parrique, Aigret and Boistel, state the reaction to be 
KHO+faint, on the other hand Crombie, Leighton, and Olivier record that 
none is observable. This might be taken to indicate that there are two 
states of Cl. leptophylla,onQ, KHO+ and the other minus; if so it is note- 
worthy that England where the plant was discovered furnished the negative. 
It may be mentioned here that these forms of Cl. mitrula nearest to the 
European leptophyllah.3.yrQ in our experience failed to respond to KHO. 
Like all Cladonia species Cl. niitrula is very protean. Simulating as herein 
mentioned in its juvenile conditions Cl. leplophylla of Continental Europe, it 
varies to imitate Cl. cariosa cribosa (Wall.) Wain, and in those plants 
furnished with a verrucose cortex very much resembles Cl. cariosa corticata 
