26 FUNGUS-FLORA. 



or 2-3 in groups. The peridiola are much wrinkled when 

 dry, 



Nidularia confluens. Fr. 



Peridia subglobose, not rooting, thin, villose, whitish, 

 becoming irregularly torn above ; peridiola numerous, cir- 

 cular, compressed, smooth, about 1 • 5 mm. across ; spores 

 elliptical, smooth, colourless, 8-10 x 6-7 /x, 



Nidularia confluens, Fr. and Nordh., Symb. Gast., p. 3 ; 

 Mass., Mon. Gast., p. 59, f. 8]. 



On chips and amongst leaves, rarely on the ground. 

 About § in. across ; crowded and often irregular. Peridiola 

 wrinkled when dry. 



Nidularia dentata. With. 



Turban-shaped. Smaller than a hemp-seed; colour pale 

 buif ; rather woolly ; five segments or teeth at the edge, 

 broad, spear-shaped, regular. Membrane tough, whitish. 

 Seeds or capsules reddish-brown. 



Nidularia dentata, With., Arr. Brit. PL (ed. 3), vol. iv. 

 p. 357. 



Several growing together on rotten twigs. The above 

 description from Withering does not agree with any recently 

 described species, and is inserted for the purpose of prevent- 

 ing the creation of a new species, should the plant described 

 above be again discovered. 



SPHAEROBOLUS. Tode. (fig. 2, p. 20.) 



Peridium consisting of two layers, splitting in a stellate 

 manner above, the inner becoming exserted elastically, and 

 ejecting the single peridiolum. 



Sphaerobolus, Tode, Meckl., i. p. 43 ; Mass., Mon. Gast., 

 p. 60. 



Characterised by the single peridiolum. The peculiar 

 stiucture of the peridium is for the purpose of effecting spore 

 dispersion. The fungus when immature is subglobose ; when 

 mature, the two layers of the peridium split into several 

 teeth at the top, the inner layer then contracts suddenly and 

 becomes inverted through the toothed opening, having in 

 tlie act ejected the peridiolum, with its contained spores, to 

 some distance. 



