As cephalodia contain rather dark-coloured, blue-green algae, they are
nearly always noticeably darker than the thalli on which they grow,
varying from yellowish-red or brown in those of _Lecanora gelida_ to
pale-coloured in _Lecidea consentiens_[456], a darker red in _Lecidea
panaeola_ and various shades of green, grey or brown in _Stereocaulon_,
_Lobaria_ (_Ricasolia_), etc. They form either flat expansions of varying
size on the upper surface of the thallus, rounded or wrinkled wart-like
growths, or upright branching structures. On the lower surface, where
they are not unfrequent, they take the form of small brown nodules or
swellings. In a number of species packets of blue-green algae surrounded
by hyphae are found embedded in the thallus, either in the pith or
immediately under the cortex. They are of the same nature as the
superficial excrescences and are also regarded as cephalodia.
B. CLASSIFICATION
Forssell has drawn up a classification of these structures, as follows:
I. CEPHALODIA VERA.
1. =Cephalodia epigena= (including =perigena=) developed on the upper
outer surface of the thallus, which are tuberculose, lobulate, clavate or
branched in form. These are generally corticate structures.
2. =Cephalodia hypogena= which are developed on the under surface of the
thallus; they are termed “thalloid” if they are entirely superficial,
and “immersed” when they are enclosed within the tissues. They are
non-corticate though surrounded by a weft of hyphae. Forssell further
includes here certain placodioid (lobate), granuliform and fruticose
forms which develop on the hypothallus of the lichen, and gradually
push their way up either through the host thallus, or, as in _Lecidea
panaeola_, between the thalline granules.
Nylander[457] arranged the cephalodia known to him in three groups: (1)
Ceph. epigena, (2) Ceph. hypogena and (3) Ceph. endogena. Schneider[458]
still more simply and practically describes them as Ectotrophic
(external), and Endotrophic (internal).
II. PSEUDOCEPHALODIA.
These are a small and doubtful group of cephalodia which are apparently
in very slight connection with the host thallus, and show a tendency to
independent growth. They occur as small scales on _Solorina bispora_[459]
and _S. spongiosa_ and also on _Lecidea pallida_. Forssell has suggested
that the cephalodia of _Psoroma hypnorum_ and of _Lecidea panaeola_ might
also be included under this head.
Forssell and others have found and described cephalodia in the following
families and genera:
Sphaerophoraceae.
_Sphaerophorus_ (_S. stereocauloides_).
Lecideaceae.
_Lecidea_ (_L. panaeola_, _L. consentiens_, _L. pelobotrya_,
etc.).
Cladoniaceae.
_Stereocaulon_, _Pilophorus_ and _Argopsis_.
Pannariaceae.
_Psoroma_ (_P. hypnorum_).
Peltigeraceae.
_Peltigera_ (_Peltidea_), _Nephroma_ and _Solorina_.
Stictaceae.
_Lobaria_, _Sticta_.
Lecanoraceae.
_Lecania_ (_L. lecanorina_), _Aspicilia_[460].
Physciaceae.
_Placodium bicolor_[461].
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