42 MICROSCOPIC FUNGI. 



globular protuberances intermingled with them. 

 These soon rupture the epidermis, and take the 

 orange colour and cylindrical form of cluster-cups 

 (JEcidium). At length the summit of the peridia 

 opens to allow the escape of the stylospores. It is 

 easy to assure oneself that the spermogones and 

 cluster-cups proceed from the mycelium of the 

 sporidia which had been sown. During several 

 days the length and number of the peridia of the 

 JEcidium continue to increase. One month after 

 sowing, brownish or blackish points make their 

 appearance upon the whitish spots, around, or 

 intermingled with the cluster-cups. These increase 

 rapidly in number and magnitude. Examined by 

 the microscope, they present the ordinary fructi- 

 fication of TJromyces, mingled with stylospores. 

 Thus the mycelium of the cluster-cups engenders 

 at the end of its vegetation fruits equal in all points 

 to those from whence they are in the first instance 

 derived. 



The stylospores of the cluster-cups possess the 

 irregular, globular form and structure of their 

 congeners. They are filled with orange granular 

 matter, and provided with a colourless, finely- 

 punctated epispore. When these stylospores are 

 sown on the moistened epidermis of a favourable 

 plant, the germ-tube at first creeps along the 

 surface, but as soon as its extremities find a stomate, 

 it enters it and elongates itself in the air-cavity 

 below the orifice, receives the contents of the original 



