M. C. COOKE ON NETTLE STEMS AND THEIR MICRO-FUNGI. 79 



Another, and still more singular Sphceria was also found by Dr. 

 Capron on nettle stems at Shere, in wliich the sporidia are different 

 from any other that we have ever seen. The perithecia are de- 

 pressed and covered by the cuticle, so that only the mouth is visible. 



Fig. 5. 

 In wet weather the perithecia can be readily seen through the cuticle, 

 but when the stems are dry it is almost hopeless to search for 

 this species. The sporidia are also as long as the ascus in which 

 they are contained, crossing each other near the apex, but when 

 free are found to be twice or thrice septate, bent at the constric- 

 tions, and again spuriously septate two, or three, or more times in 

 every joint (fig. 5). From the peculiarly angular manner in which the 

 sporidia are bent when free, this species was named Sphceria ulnas- 

 j)ora. By comparison with the fruit of Sphceria acuminata, com- 

 mon on thistle stems-, and the Sphceria urticce and Sphceria rubella 

 named above, this will be found markedly distinct from all. It may 

 be noted that whilst in most instances Sphwria acuta will be found 

 at the base of the stems, Sphcerice urticce and Sphceria ulnaspora 

 occur higher up, usually about midway of the stem. 



SphcBria doliolum is by no means an uncommon species on the 

 stems of umbelliferous plants, and sometimes on old nettles. The 

 perithecia are of a shining black, and concentrically channelled, so 

 that a ridge seems to run round the perithecium, giving it a very 

 distinct character. Sometimes the perithecia are very conical, as in 

 a variety described by Mr. F. Currey as Spha^ria Helence. The 

 sporidia are arranged in two rows in the asci, and are yellowish, 

 almost fusiform in shape, and divided by from three to five septa, 

 with constrictions at each joint. Spermogones are often found 

 mixed with the perfect perithecia, and these contain a great number 

 of minute colourless spermatia. The second joint of the sporidia 

 is sometimes swollen so as to be broader than the rest. 



The stems of nettles are often sprinkled so densely with the small 

 black perithecia which nestle beneath the cuticle, as to have a grey, 

 nebulous appearance, which are probably the Sphceria nehulosa of 

 old authors, or partly so. These very minute perithecia do not con- 



