252 On the Fungi of the neighbourhood of BristoL 



ceased to be distinctive, as other Spheeria growing from the larvse 

 of insects have been discovered ; indeed I have seen gigantic 

 specimens from New Zealand on caterpillars- There appear to be 

 • two very distinct forms, or rather two species, described under 

 Sph. entomorrhiza, one with a slender stem and exserted ostiola, 

 and the other with a more robust stem and perithecia entirely 

 immersed. 

 Mr. Berkeley says, Dickson's plant is evidently altered from the 

 larvae having been buried in the ground ; but there is no evidence 

 of this either from the figure or description, and I humbly conceive 

 the exserted ostiola render it specifically distinct*. I would propose 

 to call the original plant Sph. Dicksoni, and the variety described in 

 the * English Flora' by Mr. Berkeley, Sph. Berkelcei, in compliment 

 to that profound mycologist. I possess a single specimen of the last 

 plant or variety gathered at Stockwood, Somerset, April 1836; it 

 precisely accords with Mr. Berkeley's description ; the roots embrace 

 as it were the caterpillar, which is hardened, as if filled with the 

 matter of which the fungus is composed. 

 Sph. lanciformis , Sow. On birch bark. Not uncommon. 

 Sph. leiphaemia, Fr. On dead oak branches. Very common. 

 Sph. incana, species nova ? Section villose. Perithecia densely 

 crowded, globose, covered with white mealy down. Ostiola pa- 

 pillary, black, shining. Growing on low dung in dense patches. 

 Stapleton Wood, August 24, 1839. 

 An exceedingly neat Sphceria : the ostiola and a little of the upper 

 portion of the perithecia are bare. I can find no description appli- 

 cable to this plant. 



Sph. strobilina, Holl. and Schum. On cones of Scotch fir, Stapleton. 

 Sph. atrovirens, A. and S. y Rusci. On dead Ruscus aculeatus. 



Not uncommon. 

 Sph. setacea, Pers. On dead leaves of the Pyrus Aria, Redland. 

 Sph. vagans lamiocola, Berk. Fung. Exsiccat. On L. album, every- 

 where. This, or a nearly allied species, occurred on the leaves 

 of Lychnis diurna. 

 Geaster rufescens, Pers. In woods on a clay soil ; not uncommon 

 with us. There is a nearly allied species, occasionally found on 

 open downs, with the outer peridium rose-coloured. 

 Diderma cyanescens, Fr. On dead oak leaves. Nightingale Valley. 

 Didymium hemisphericum. Bull. On twigs, in a ditch, Ashby, April. 

 Trichiafallax. On rotten wood, Stapleton. 



* The degree of exsertion of the spherules in Sphceria militans is ex- 

 tremely variable, therefore a safe character can scarcely be drawn from this 

 circumstance. — Ed. 



