ME. MASTEES ON A MONSTEOSITY OF SAPONAEIA. 159 



C. entomorrhiza differs from all in the far longer articulations of 

 the sporidia. 



4. Coedtceps Ravenelii, BerJc. Sf Curtis ; fusca, stipite elongato flexuoso 

 suloato compresso glabriusculo, capitulo cylindrico attenuate longiore; 

 peritheciis superficialibus. Curt. no. 3080, Rav. no. 1272. (Plate l.fig. 4.) 



On larvse of Ancylonycha, Dejean, or Rhizotrogus, Latreille, buried one or 

 two inches in the earth. Spring and Summer. South Carolina. Rev. 

 M. A. Curtis and H. W. Ravenel, Esq. 



Brown. Stem 2 inches or more high, flexuous, compressed or grooved, at 

 first minutely tomentose, at length smooth ; head f inch long, cylindrical, 

 but slightly attenuated at either end. Perithecia free, ovate ; asci very long ; 

 sporidia very long, filiform, breaking up into joints 10 ft 66 of an inch long. 



This species has very much the habit of G. sinensis. 



5. Coedtceps paltjsteis, BerJc. SfBroome ; carnoso-suberosa, sordid^ carneo- 

 fusca; stipite cylindrico sursum bifido trifidove, capitulis clavatis sub- 

 cylindricis ex ostiolis asperulis ; sporidiis filiformibus in articulos minimos 

 globosos solvendis. Rav. no. 718. (Plate l.fig. 5.) 



On moist putrid logs, undoubtedly attached to larvae. Northampton Swamp, 

 South Carolina. May. S. W. Ravenel, JEsq. 



From 1-2 inches high, about half as much when dry, of a dull brownish- 

 purple or flesh-colour ; carnoso-suberose ; stem cylindrical, pulverulent, 

 divided above, about as long as the clavate head, but scarcely so thick. 

 Head rough with the mouths of the globose perithecia. Asci long, flexuous, 

 filled with moniliform strings of globose, extremely minute grains, at length 

 discharged in the form of white flocci. Articulations of the sporidia not 

 exceeding 5o ^ ff6 of an inch in diameter. 



The extremely minute articulations or sporidiola, without any 

 other character, separate this curious species, which has moreover 

 a peculiar habit. 



Note on a Monstrosity of the •Flowers of Saponaria officinalis, L. 

 By Maxwell T. Mastees, Esq. Communicated by the 

 Secretary. 



[Read Nov. 18th, 1856.] 



Much discussion has from time to time arisen among Morpholo- 

 gists, as to the exact nature of the scales found on the petals of so 

 many of the Caryophyllece. The early botanists were content to call 

 them nectaries, scales of the corona, appendages to the petals, &c, 

 without attempting to explain them further. M. Dunal and the 

 supporters of the theory of transverse chorisis, consider them to 

 afford good illustrations of that process. This notion has also the 

 support of Dr. Asa Gray, who institutes a comparison between 



