PODISOMA MACROPUS. 319 
of a single spring night the whole tree as it were with the richest crop of 
ripe oranges, If wet weather continues for many days, it remains in this 
state till the ligules melt away. Under the influence of the sun, however; 
they soon dry up, and never revive. The apples last for a year. Old spe- 
cimens are internally not unlike excrescences of trees. The apple is never 
found without at least rudimentary ligules, nor the ligules without the 
apple. In general when the Junipers are cut into a pyramidal or other 
form they are covered with an incredible quantity of these fungi, but 
according to observations which I have carefully made for ten years it does 
not destroy them, nor does it even seem to injure them. Many people 
therefore, and some, not of the lowest class, believe firmly that it is either 
the real inflorescence or fruit of the Juniper. I am convinced from close 
observation that it has nothing to do with insects. The apple does not 
however, appear very clearly of a fungous nature. It appears to me to be 
4 most anomalous substance, respecting which it is better to assert 
nothing, but to examine more accurately. : 
The anatomy of the base of this fungus in its young state before 
it protrudes the tremelloid ligule, exhibits the following appearances. 
The substance is then altogether like that of a ripe apple; if cut 
With a knife it is of a whitish green like that of an unripe apple; 
grumoso-cellular radiating from the base. The green tint soon changes 
into tawny orange, and then a few whitish fibres are observed ra- 
diating and branching from the base. After the protrusion of the 
- ligules which takes place in rainy weather the apple does not increase, 
butif the spring is not rainy, it increases daily. The epidermis of the 
younger excrescences before the evolution of the sporidochia has a fila- 
Mentoso-furfuraceous texture, and is as thick as the peal of an apple. 
The ligules in their most perfect state are loaded with sporidia, just as in 
P. juniperi ; but they are generally longer and not conical, but often some- 
What flexuous and attenuated towards the apex. 
It may be observed that our British species grow from a peculiar disc 
though not developed so highly as the Cedar Apple, and that a similar disc 
occurs in a new species of Cyttaria, discovered at Cape Horn, by Dr. 
YT Hooker to which I purpose to give the name of Cyttaria Hookeri: 
« B. 
——— 
Contributions to the Botany of Sourn America. By Joux 
Miers, Esa., F.R.S. F.L.S. 
(With a Plate, TAB. XIII, XIV.) 
: Itis the intention of the author to continue, from time to 
time, a series of these Contributions to the Botany of South 
