74 FUNGUS-FLORA. 



cracking in irregular lines and exposing the disc ; asci 

 cylindrical, 8-spored ; spores hyaline, continuous, smooth, 

 elliptical, 1 -seriate ; paraphyses present. 



Cryptomyces, Greville, Scot. Crypt. Flor., vol. iv. pi. 206 ; 

 emended by Eehni, Krypt.-Flora, Disc, p. 106 ; Sacc,, Syll., 

 viii. p. 707. 



Bhytisrna, of many authors. 



The present species is separated from Bliytisma on account 

 of the very different spores and the depressed ascophores 

 being immersed in the substance of a broadly extending, 

 white stroma, formed of very densely and compactly inter- 

 woven hyphae. 



Cryptomyces aureus. Mass. (figs. 4-6, p. 91.) 



Forming blistered patches 1—10 cm. long on living 

 branches, at first blackish-brown with a somewhat broad, 

 yellow margin, then becoming entirely shining black and 

 carbonaceous ; superficial portion or excipulum with a 

 dense olive-green, parenchymatous cortex, consisting of 

 minute, polygonal cells ; stroma and hypothecium pure 

 white, composed of densely interwoven hyphae ; asci cylin- 

 drical, base rather abruptly narrowed, apex rounded, 8- 

 spored ; spores 1-seriate, continuous, smooth, elliptical or 

 sometimes broadest slightly above the middle, ends rounded, 

 straight, when young furnished with an external thin 

 gelatinous coating, hyaline then with a yellow tinge, con- 

 tents granular, 20-25 x 10-12 /x; paraphyses slender, 

 septate, apex clavate and tinged brown. 



Sphaeria aurea, Sow., Eng. Fung., pi. 356. 



Mhytisma maximum, Fries, Syst. Myc, ii. p. 566; Cke., 

 Hdbk., p. 755 ; Tulasne, Sel. Fung. Carp., iii. pi. xvi. 

 figs. 9-15. 



Cryptomyces WaucJiii, Grev., Scot. Crypt. FL, vol. iv. 

 pi. 206. 



Cryptomyces maximus, Eehm, Krypt.-Flora, Disc, p. 107, 

 figs. 1-5, p. 92; Sacc, Syll., viii. n. 2891. 



On living branches of willow. Saccardo says also on Coriws. 



Eeadily recognised by the large black blistered patches 

 having a well-defined, usually lobed margin. At maturity 

 the outer stroma separates from the matrix at the margin, 

 becomes revolute, and finally falls away. 



