107 
Thus we have data furnished for very variable external des- 
criptions. | Microscopic characters are the most constant and 
reliable, but, at the time Batsch described his species, 1 784, ex- 
ternal descriptions were mostly relied upon, those of a microscopic 
nature not being sought into. Batsch does not mention the 
spores, nor even the asci, in any way. 
The species most generally accepted as MJ. cznerea is the one 
that is very common on dead wood and branches, almost any- 
where; it has an undulate, pale cinereous disc, crisped margin, 
guttulate, narrowly elliptical-oblong spores 6-9 m long by 2-3 yu 
thick, glistening paraphyses 3 yu thick, and brown, septate hyphae 
springing from beneath the ascophore. 
Several distinct species of Mollisia, Belonidium, etc., are very 
similar in external appearance to this one, and would fit Batsch’s 
description quite as well. Some of these have no doubt been 
passed over by pocketlens examination for the common species 
accepted as .M. cinerea. For instance a comparatively new 
species, Echinella setulosa Mass,and Crossl. found on Calluna 
vulgaris often bears a striking external resemblance to some 
forms of the common species, and had several times been passed 
over before being microscopically examined. The margin was 
found to be minutely setulose (not readily recognised) and the 
spores to be 4-5 times the length of those of the common species 
viz: 38-45 by 2°5-34. We found another very similar thing on 
bark (not yet determined) with the spores 9-14 by 3-4, finally 
3 septate. 
While distinct species have been taken for cinerea, the common 
form has on the other hand undoubtedly been described under 
several names on account of its variable appearances. 
Saccardo Syl VII. n 1393, includes, as synonyms, under 
Mollisia cinerea (Batsch) Karst. M. F. 1 pag. 189, P. cinerea 
Batsch. cont. 1,p. 196, f. 137, Sowerb. f. 64, Nees syst. f. 269 P. 
Callosa Bull. Champ. pag. 252 t. 416, f. 1, Batsch. cont. 1 I. p. gs. 
f 210 (icon non obstat) Flor. Dan. f. 1460, f. 2, P. plana, P. alneg 
et obconica Schum. I c. pag. 417, 423, P. sub-carneo-pallens A.S. 
P. 307, P. salicaria Pers, Nipt. cin. Fuck. Sacc. F. it. f. ey OF 
The above may or may not be true synonyms, I cannot say, 
some authors do not think they are. 
ae however, in addition to the above brings under the 
ade of cinerea no less than 12 other varieties and forms whose 
spore characters are scarce] 
y consistent with the idea that the 
can be brought under one species. f 
: The 12 forms or varieties Saccardo includes under M. cinerea. 
i . . . ° 
: ie n 1393. with dimensions of Asci, and spores, and 
