MR. F. CURREY ON THE FRUCTIFICATION OF COMPOUND SPHÆRLÆ. 259 
doing so having been kindly accorded to me, I have done my best to avail myself of it, 
and have now the honour of laying before the Linnean Society a * Synopsis of the fructi- 
fication of the compound Sphæriæ of the Hookerian herbarium.” In describing the nature 
of the fruit, the points to be particularly attended to are, 1st, the number of sporidia in 
each ascus; 2ndly, their mode of arrangement in the ascus, i. e., whether in one row, in 
two rows, or in a crowded and irregular manner; 3rdly, the shape of the sporidia ; 
4thly, their colour; 5thly, their structure, i. e., whether unicellular and simple, or divided 
by septa, which latter may be transverse, or transverse and longitudinal, or even oblique ; 
and 6thly, the length of the sporidia. The shape of the asci varies so much, not only in 
the same species, but in the same specimen, that I do not think it a character to be relied 
upon. | 
In the great majority of cases the number of sporidia is eight, very rarely it is less, in 
a few instances the number is sixteen, and in a few others the number is unlimited. 
The mode of arrangement in the ascus, although tolerably constant, is not a very cer- 
tain characteristic. "There are many species in which uniseriate and biseriate sporidia 
may be found even in the same perithecum. 
The shape and colour of the sporidia are very constant, and sure marks of distinction. 
With regard to colour, however, it must be remarked that it is different at different 
periods in the growth of the plant. For instance, in a very common species, S. stercoraria, 
Sow., the sporidia are colourless at first, they then assume a rich sea-green sort of colour, 
and eventually become quite black and opaque. It might be supposed that the darker 
colour evidenced the maturity of the plant, but I doubt if this is so, for I have seen the 
sporidia of S. stercoraria when in their colourless state germinate as actively as those of 
the darker shade. j 
The structure of the sporidia when perfect is also a very safe guide, but it is to be 
observed that there are many species in which the sporidia rarely attain their perfect 
state. This is particularly to be seen in some species of the division “ Villosæ,” where 
the sporidia when perfect are of a dark brown colour, and divided by numerous septa, 
but where the sporidia (although attaining their full size) more frequently remain simple, 
continuous, and colourless. Sphæria Corticis one of the Obtectæ is another striking 
instance of this peculiarity. The sporidia in this species are almost always colourless 
and simple, whereas in the perfect state (to which as far as my observations go they 
seldom attain) they are of a dark rich brown colour and divided by several septa. 
I may here observe, that it is important to distinguish between real and apparent septa; 
it is not uncommon in unicellular sporidia to find the endochrome divided into two or 
more portions, and if these portions of the endochrome touch one another, the line of 
contact often appears so like a real partition that it is not always easy to ascertain 
whether in fact any septum exist or not. 
The presence of nuclei is a point of structure which should be noticed in describing - 
sporidia, but it is a characteristic of no great certainty, the sporidia in the same species 
being often found indifferently either with or without nuclei, and the number of them 
also is variable. In some plants, however, as in the sporidia of S. verrucæformis, and of 
some Hypoxyla, they are invariably to be met with. 
VOL. XXII. 
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