= ee LU SS 
307 
One of the most conspicuous is that of Spheeria Epochnii B and 
Br. The conidiiferous state of this species has long been known 
as Epochnium Fungorum Fr. It grows upon decaying Thelephore, 
forming black patches, composed of a mass of threads, the tips 
of which produce abundance of conidia. This occurred in pro- 
fusion at Warleigh Manor some years ago, and, on close inspec- 
tion, there appeared to be perithecia in a young state occupying 
the centre of the patches. These were watched, and, after two or 
three months, the perithecia were found to contain ascigerous 
fruit, which was not very unlike the conidia. Here was strong 
confirmation of Tulasnes theory. Spheria innumera B and Br. 
is another instance which occurred first in our neighbourhood. 
Tulasne has named it Chetospheria, from the curious fructifer- 
ous hairs which accompany it bearing the conidia, and of which 
he has given beautiful figures in his Carpologia. I must refer to 
his book (Vol. II.) for various instances illustrative of the subject. 
In the more highly developed species of the Coniomycetes, we meet 
with perithecia, closely resembling those of Spheriz ; but, as we 
descend in the scale, we find the perithecia becoming less and 
less perfect, sometimes flat and membranaceous, then dimidiate 
(Pilidium) ; in Vermicularia it is mouthless and bristly, in Septoria 
more or less incorporated with the matrix, in Discella it appears 
to be composed of the bark of the wood on which it grows. 
Descending further, we have the order Melanconiei, without any 
perithecium, where the spores are produced beneath the bark of 
trees and exude in dark masses. Glceosporium consists of a mass 
of hyaline spores formed beneath the cuticle of leaves and oozing 
out in tendrils. Still lower in the Family, we find in Torulacei no 
semblance of any perithecium, but the spores are produced on the 
outside of rotting wood, herbaceous stems, or leaves. All the 
above Genera are more interesting from their connection with 
other ascigerous forms than from their own peculiar structure. 
Neottiospora caricum Desm and its probable relations to Volutella 
melaloma B and Br. is an exception. Dinemasporium graminis, 
