[The culture of the lichen Endocarpon pusillum in the laboratory].

Culture experiments with the lichen Endocarpon pusillum corroborate the often doubted observations and results of STAHL (1877). It is possible to cultivate this lichen in the laboratory from spore to spore. After two months a differentiation into cortex, algae-layer, medulla and rhizines is developed and after 5-6 months the formation of mature and germinable ascospores is finished.Observations of the spore dispersal showed that the ascospores are ejected up to 5 cm. The spore dispersal can endure for some days and in this way produces a compact dissemination.The thallus development (germination of ascospores, transformation of hymenialalgae into thallus-algae, development of thallus initials, prothalli and primary thalli) and the formation of mature perithecia with germinable ascospores in laboratory cultures is described and illustrated.The opinion that such quickly growing and developing epigaeic lichens are especially suitable for laboratory cultures is emphasized and the problem of "lichensynthesis" is discussed in relation to the results of the experiments.