I 



Mr. F. Currey on the Fructification of Fungi. 301 



are disposed in fasciculi in the substance of the gemmule from the 

 centre to the circumference. 



The forms occurring in the second class of these spicula are 

 exceedingly varied and beautiful, and especially characteristic of the 

 species in which they occur. 



The author has named and figured the whole of the spicula de- 

 scribed in the paper, and has traced some of the most complicated 

 ones from their earliest and simplest state, through all the stages of 

 their development to the adult condition. More than a hundred 

 distinct forms of these organs are thus described, so as to render 

 them available hereafter to naturalists as characteristic of species. 



"On the Fructification of certain Sphaeriaceous Fungi." By 

 Frederick Currey, Esq. 



The author refers to the recent inquiries into the diversities of 

 form existing in the reproductive organs of Fungi, and notices the 

 physiological importance of the results, and the probable future effect 

 upon systematic arrangement. 



Two different classes of Sphaeriaceous Fungi are then noticed in 

 detail, in the former of which the different forms of fruit produced 

 are essentially distinct, whilst in the latter the fruit is modified so as 

 to assume a form materially different from the normal form. 



The following are the plants included in the former of these classes, 

 with the principal points noticed in each. 



1 . Sphceria verrucceformis, Ehr. The occurrence of an ascigerous 

 and cytisporous state of fructification within the same circumscribing 

 line, and the nature of the cells constituting that line. 



2. Sphceria favacea, Fr. Points of distinction between it and S. 

 verruccBformis. Curious modifications in the shape of the asci. 



3. Sphceria olivacea, n. s. Aberrant forms of asci, and descrip- 

 tion of the sporidia. 



4. Sphceria tiliaginea, n. s. The existence of spermatia and stylo- 

 spores, and description of the form and modes of growth of those organs. 



5. Sphceria vestita^ Fr. The existence of perithecia and naked 

 spores within a conceptacle common to both, and having a common 

 orifice. 



6. Sphceria fragiformisy Pers. Description of a secondary form 

 of fruit belonging to the Sphceria^ hitherto considered to have been 

 a growth parasitical upon it. 



7. Sphceria salicina, Pers., and Coniothecium Amentacearum, 

 Corda. The production of these Fungi (hitherto supposed to be 

 distinct plants) from the same mycelium, and the probability of a 

 similar relation between Sphceria lanciformisy Fr., and Coniothecium 

 betulinuniy Corda. 



The following are the plants included in the latter of the two 

 classes, and the principal points noticed with regard to them. 



1 . Sphceria angulata^ Fr. The occurrence of a state of fructifica- 

 tion similar to that of the genus Cnjptosporium ; the varieties of 

 structure in the normal sporidia, and the probable origin and nature 

 of the abnormal fruit. 



