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641 



Family VIL ASCOMYCETES. 



Fruit consisting of sporidia, mostly definite, contained in asci, 

 springing from a naked, or enclosed stratum of fructifying 

 cells, and forming an hymenium or nucleus. — Berk. Outl.p. 357. 



The essential character of this important division consists in the develop- 

 ment of definite or indefinite sporidia within certain of the external cells of 

 the hymenium called abci, frequently accompanied by inarticulate or septate, 

 simple or branched, threads, which are abortive asci, known under the name 

 of imro/physes. — Berk Irdr.jj. 27U. 



Asci often evanescent. 



Keceptacle clavseform. 



Asci springing from threads 



Perithecia free. 



Asci springing from the base 



Aflci persistent. 



Perithecia opening by a distinct ostiolum 



Hard or coriaceous, hymenium at length exposed 



Hypogeous ; hymenium complicated .... 



Fleshy, waxy, or tremelloid ; hymenium mostly exposed 



Onygenei. 



Pensporiacei. 



Sphceriacei. 

 Pha.cidiaxei. 

 To.leracei. 

 Ehellacei. 



Order XXVI. ONTGENEI. 



Peridium formed of closely interwoven threads; sporidia at 

 length forming a compact, dusty mass. — Berk. Outl. p. 406. 



General receptacle clavseform or subglobose ; peridium brittle, filled with 

 branched threads, which produce asci at different points j asci soon absorbed ; 

 sporidia filling the ca\'ity of the peridium, pulverulent. — Berk. Irdi 



Gen. 274. 



.p.m. 



ONYGENA, Pers. 



Parasitic on animal substances ; peridium 

 stipitate, or sessile, ^papyraceous, at length 

 splitting ; asci delicate ; sporidia at length 

 forming a dusty mass. — Berk. Outl. p. 406. 

 {Fig. 309.) 



The species resemble little round-headed nails, and 

 are smooth externally, and filled within with reddish 

 powder, which is at first contained in asci. They are 

 small and singular from their affecting animal sub- 

 stances, and their external resemblance to little puflf- 

 baUs. {Fbj. 309.) 



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