326 MR. F. CURREY ON THE FRUCTIFICATION OF SIMPLE SPH^RI^. 



dark olive-green, divided into two unequal parts, in the smaller of which the endochrome 

 is 3-partite, and in the larger 3- or 4-partite. Sporidia surrounded by a gelatinous 

 envelope, which is not always visible in the ascus, especially where the sporidia touch 

 one another. Length of sporidia 0-0020 to 0-0024 inch. I have ventui-ed to place 

 this plant in the Obtectce, contrary to the opinion of Messrs. Berkeley and Broome, 

 who consider its di-vision to be the StibtectcB. Very like S. lanciformis in the form 

 and nature of its spoi-idia. 



318. S. APicuLATA, n. s. Tab. LVIII. fig. 96, («) ascus with sporidia, x 325 ; {b) free 

 sporidia, x 450. Sporidia uniseriate, olive-brown, straight or very slightly curved, 

 biseptate, each fiu-nished with a hyaline tip, which is shut off from the rest of the 

 sporidium by one of the septa. The hyaline tip is frequently, if not generally, invi- 

 sible in the ascus, owing to the overlapping of the ends of the sporidia. The sporidia 

 are often nucleated ; the endochrome is somewhat granular. Length of the sporidia 

 0-0010 inch. Perithecia large, subglobose, deeply buried in the wood, above the 

 siu-face of which the rather wide, circular, somewhat gaping ostiolum just protrudes. 

 On a dry, old (? deal) fence of the South- Western Railway, not far from the Wey- 

 bridge Station, 1856 and 1857. A very curious plant both in habit and sporidia. 

 The perithecia are completely and deeply buried in the wood, and are sometimes 

 scattered, sometimes in circles or groups of as many as five together. The perithecia 

 seem eventually to throw off the wood above the ostiola, leaving deep depressions in 

 the surface of the wood. 



319. S. appendiculosa, Berk, and Br. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 2. vol. vii. p. 189. 

 Tab. LVIII. fig. 97, sporidia, x 325. Sporidia uniseriate, overlapping, colourless, 

 subfusiform, with a caudate appendage, 0-001 inch long with the appendage. 



320. S. siPARiA, Berk, and Br. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 2. vol. ix. p. 321. pi. 9. fig. 8. 

 Tab. LVIII. fig. 98, ascus wdth sporidia, x 220. Sporidia biseriate, at first golden- 

 yellow, eventually clear brown, 0-0020 to 00024 inch long, without measuring the 

 outer gelatinous envelope in which they are enclosed, and which disappears as the 

 sporidia advance in age. 



321. S. (Massabia) ambltospora *, Berk, and Br. I. c. p. 322. pi. 10. fig. 10. Tab. LIX. 

 fig. 99, ascus with sporidia and a free sporidium, X 220. Sporidia biseriate, greenish- 

 brown, eventually brown, biseptate, lageniform, the apicular cell rather lighter- 

 coloui-ed than the others, 0002 to 0-0024 inch long, mthout measuring the gelatinous 

 coat in which they are enveloped. In describing the fruit of this plant, I have 

 adopted the name used by Messrs. Berkeley and Broome, who described it as a new 

 species. I am quite convinced, however, that S. cimblijospora. Berk, and Broome, is 

 the Sph(Bria foedans of the ' Syst. Myc.,' the Massaria foedans of the ' Summa Veg. 

 Scand.,' and the Splanchnonema of Corda, in Sturm's ' Deutschland's Flora,' t. 54. 



322. S. GiGASPORA, Desm. Tab. LIX. fig. 100, ascus with sporidia, x 220. Sporidia 

 biseriate, oblong or almond-shaped, with the sides often incurved at the centre, dark 



Massaria, Notar. Perithecium subcarbonaceous ; ostiolum papillate, attenuated. Nucleus gelatinous, filled 

 with paraphyses and asci, which dehisce at the apex, ejecting dark septate spores immersed in gelatine, which 

 form a dirty black stain. 



