MR. CURREY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCLEEOTIUM ROSEUM. 147 



probable that some similar change may take place in (Edogoniwn. 

 The observation of the spores, therefore, in this genus, after their 

 formation or separation from their parent-cells, presents another 

 interesting subject of investigation. 



The species of Bulbochcete on which the microgonidia are figured 

 by Mr. Broome, appear to be B. setigera and B. crassa. The two 

 species at any rate are different, for while the spores of B. setigera 

 measure "003 in diameter, or 3-3-3'", i n * ne °t ner species they mea- 

 sure only -0015, or ^-gV". On the threads of the former a little 

 parasitic species is also figured, which I believe to be undescribed, 

 and has been named by Messrs. Broome and Thwaites B. para- 

 sitica. Microgonidia have not been observed in this species ; but 

 the specimens are so entangled with the threads on which they 

 grow, that it is not possible to obtain a very clear view. The 

 sketches, it should be observed, are mere hasty sketches for the 

 sake of illustration, and were made without the slightest notion of 

 being laid before the Society. 



On a New Species of Beziza, being the full Development of Scle- 

 rotium roseum, Kneiff. By Frederick Currey, Esq., F.L.S. 



[Eead June 17th, 1856.] 



The genus Sclerotium is one which, for a long time, has occupied 

 a doubtful position in the family of the Fungi. After having been 

 bandied about from one family to another, the opinion has for some 

 time been gaining ground, that the Sclerotia are not autonomous 

 productions, but are merely the mycelia of other Fungi, which 

 being arrested in their growth whilst retaining their vitality, await 

 only a favourable season for attaining their full development. 

 There are numerous instances in which, by the observation of 

 them in their natural condition or by cultivation, the Sclerotia 

 have been ascertained to produce Fungi of various kinds and 

 belonging to widely different families, but there is still a vast 

 number in which no such subsequent development has been traced, 

 and which in the mean time are necessarily retained in the genus 

 Sclerotium. Under these circumstances, any new case in which 

 the full development is observed must be a matter of interest to 

 mycologists, and I have therefore thought it worth while to bring 

 before the notice of the Society the following instance. The Site* 

 rotium to which I allude is Sclerotium roseum, Kneiff., which is 

 found in the interior of the stems of Bull-rushes and common 



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