MR. F. CURREY ON THE FRUCTIFICATION OF SIMPLE SPHyERI^. 327 



brown, triseptate, or with the endochrome 4-partite, surrounded by a narrow gela- 

 tinous border. Perithecia small, conical or somewhat flattened, sometimes only just 

 piercing the bark, sometimes protruding consideral)ly. Sporidia ejected in vast 

 numbers, forming wide black stains round the ostiola, 0-0026 inch long. On dead 

 branches of (I think) maple, Blackheath Park, 1855 and 1856. This plant is the 

 type of the genus Saccothecium of Pries, the characters of which seem to me most 

 unsatisfactory, and to have been founded upon imperfect microscopical observations. 



323. S. INQUINANS, Tode ; Fr. S. M. ii. p. 486. Tab. LIX. fig. 101, sporidia, x 220. 

 Sporidia dark brown, with a granular and nucleated endochrome, very variable iu 

 size, sometimes reaching 0-0030 inch in length. 



324. S. BXJPONiA, Berk, and Br. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 2. vol. ix. p. 323. pi. 10. 

 fig. 13. Tab. LIX. fig. 102, ascus with sporidia, x 220. Sporidia uniseriate, clear 

 rich brown, eventually becoming very dark brown, oblong, constricted in the middle, 

 surrounded by a broad gelatinous envelope, 0-0008 to 0-0011 inch long. Not un- 

 common on dead branches of oak. One of the finest Sphcerice in point of fructifica- 

 tion. The figui-e in the ' Annals' conveys no idea of the beauty of the sporidia, being 

 hardly more than an outline. 



325. S. ruscELLA, Berk, and Br. I. c. p. 325. pi. 11. fig. 20. Tab. LIX. fig. 103, ascus 

 • with sporidia, x 325. Sporidia uniseriate, colourless at first, eventually pale brown, 



oblong-elliptic, rarely very slightly curved, or incurved or constricted in the middle, 

 0-0007 inch long ; endochi-ome 4-partite, giving a triseptate appearance. 



326. S. TiLi.E, Pers. Syn. p. 84 ; Fr. S. M. ii. p. 485. Tab. LIX. fig. 104, sporidia, 

 X 325. Sporidia biseriate, dark brown, lageniform, uniseptate, 0-0018 inch long, 



without measuring the gelatinous coat in which each sporidium is enveloped. I am 

 not quite certain whether this plant is the true ^S*. Tilice of Persoon. It is not un- 

 common, and cannot be mistaken for any other if attention be paid to its fruit, and 

 to its growing upon lime. In fig. 105 and fig. 106 I have represented asci with the 

 sporidia and free sporidia of a Sphceria on lime, communicated to me by Mr. 

 Berkeley as S. Tilice of Mougeot and Nestler. The sporidia of this plant are uni- 

 seriate or biseriate, colourless, acuminato-eUiptical, 0-0006 inch long, with bipartite 

 endochrome. 



327. S. AsHWELLiANA, n. s. Tab. LIX. fig. 107, ascus with sporidia, x 220. Sporidia 

 uniseriate or biseriate, colourless or greenish, elliptical, but mostly pointed at each 

 end and slightly constricted in the middle, 1-4-septate, hyaline, 0-0010 to 0-0014 

 inch long. On small branches of fir, Weybridge, Sm-rcy, October 1857. Perithecia? 

 The specimens were in bad condition, and I have some doubt whether the plant 

 belongs to the Obtectce or the Circinatce ; but I know of no species in either of those 

 divisions with similai' fruit, and have therefore proposed the present as a new one. 



Div. 24. OBTURATiE. 



328. S. MU/LEPUNCTATA, Grev. I cannot distinguish this plant from S. corticis, Sow. ; and 

 this seems to be Fries' opinion (see ' Elenchus,' ii. 98). 



329. S. Fraxini, Fr. This also seems to me to be identical with S. corticis. Sow. 



