96 Rev. M. J. Berkeley and Mr. C. E. Broome on British Fungi. 



less regular than in Sphceropsis, with which genus it has in some 

 respects a close affinity. Discella again is closely allied, but the 

 perithecium in the present instance, growing between the true 

 cuticle and the cuticular cells, is quite distinct from the subjacent 

 tissues, not to mention the mode of dehiscence and the obovate 

 spores. 



A recent inspection of Dr. Greville's specimens, which are 

 however very young and imperfect and mixed with Asteroma 

 Ulmi, Chev., shows that Mr. Piggot's plant is just the same. 

 We have great pleasure in dedicating the new genus, which we 

 have been compelled to propose, to the intelligent observer to 

 whom we are indebted for this and many other valuable species. 

 Dr. Montague, to whom specimens have been submitted, and 

 who has sent a sketch of the sporophores, which appears in our 

 plate, agrees with us in the propriety of placing it in a new ge- 

 nus. We have not however been able to confirm his observations 

 as to the sporophores, though we observe the spores on the field 

 of the microscope frequently disposed in rows, as if just sepa- 

 rated. The stability of the genus does not however rest upon 

 this character alone, but on the flaccid irregularly ruptured peri- 

 thecia, which at first sight resemble the cups of a Phacidium. 



Plate V. fig. 1. a. Portion of the perithecium magnified, with some 

 of the sporophores (as observed by ourselves) and spores appearmg at the 

 edge. In this state the sporophores are simple, b. Sporophores separated, 

 and showing the tomiparous origin of the spores, from a sketch by Dr. Mon- 

 tagne ; c. spores more highly magnified. 



504. Rhopalomyces pallidus, n. s. Pallide cervinus, floccis fer- 

 tilibus furcatis flexuosis, sporis minutis ellipticis. On decayed 

 Russian matting, King's Clifie, Feb. 10, 1848. 



Creeping widely over the matrix, on which it forms a mealy 

 pale fawn-coloured ragged stratum. Hyphasma delicate, con- 

 sisting of very fine threads, which produce little branches swell- 

 ing out suddenly, and rising at once, or creeping along and 

 giving ofi" fertile flocci. These are rather thick, irregular in out- 

 line, once or twice forked. Heads globose or nearly so, beau- 

 tifully areolate ; each areola producing in its centre a short deli- 

 cate spicule surmounted with a minute elliptic spore. 



One of the most beautiful Mucedines, distinguished from 

 Aspergillus by its areolate head and single stratum of spores. 



Plate V. fig. 2. a. Mycelium and fertile threads magnified ; b. surface 

 of head showing the reticulated structure ; c. spicules and spores verj* highly 

 magnified. 



505. R. candidus, n. s. Candidus ; hyphasmate parcissimo, 

 floccis fertilibus rectis simplicibus ; capitulis subglobosis, sporis 

 minutis ellipticis. On a mixture of dung, earth and hops. With 

 the foregoing. 



