PDF - CES (IISc)

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MORPHOLOGY
VI. HYMENOLICHENS
A. SUPPOSED AFFINITY WITH OTHER PLANTS
Lichens in which the fungal elements belong to the Hymenomycetes
are confined to three tropical genera. They are associated with blue-green
algae and are most nearly related to the Thelephoraceae among fungi. The
spores are borne, as in that family, on basidia.
The best known Hymenolichen, Cora Pavonia (Fig. 86), was discovered
during his travels in the W. Indies (1785-87) growing on trees
by Swartz 1
Fig. 86. Cora Pavonia Fr. (after Mattirolo).
in the mountains of Jamaica, and the new plant was recorded by him as
Ulva montana. Gmelin 2 also included it in Ulva in close association with
Ulva (Padind) Pavonia, but that classification was shortly after disputed by
Woodward 3 who thought its affinity was more nearly with the fungi and
near to Boletus
suggested that it should be made the type of a new genus
(Polystictus} versicolor.
4
Fries in due time made the new genus Cora, though
he included it among algae; finally N.ylander 5 established the lichenoid
character of the thallus and transferred it to the Lecanorei.
It was made the subject of more exact investigation by Mattirolo 6 who
1 Swartz 1788.
2 Gmelin 1791.
5 Nylander 1855.
3 Woodward 1797.
6
Mattirolo 1881.
4 Fries 1825.