1861.] CHAl'TERS ON FUNGI. 267 



Cladospobium. 



Spores arranged in short moniliform branclilets, at length 

 falling off. Flucci septate above. 



Cladosporium hekbarum, Lk. CommoTi Cladosporium. Tufts 

 effuse, soft, dense, green, then olive-blaek ; fibres collapsing, pel- 

 lueid, as well as the olivaceous spores. 



On all sorts of decaying substances. Very common. 



Forming a short dense stratum, or scattered tufts of a dark 

 olive-green colour, generally extending over a considerable sur- 

 face. Tlie spores, which are somewhat variable in size, become 

 at length uniseptate. Mr. Berkeley says, " This is perhaps the 

 commonest of all Fungi, growing on all decaying substances, and 

 in consequence assuming various forms. '^ 



A variety, Cladosporium Fumago of authors, attacks the living 

 leaves of fruit-trees, and does much mischief. 



Suborder 4, Mucedines. 



Mycelium generally abundant, giving off erect fertile threads, 

 which are mostly white or coloured. Spores generally simple, 

 scattered, or collected into little heads, sometimes forming simple 

 or branched moniliform threads. 



A large group, comprehending most of the productions known 

 under the common name of " Moulds. ^^ They attack living 

 structures, as well as those in a state of decay, and are often very 

 injurious to man. It is still a question whether parasitic Fungi 

 are the cause or the effect (or rather the accompaniment) of 

 decay ; but there can be no doubt of this fact, that decaying sub- 

 stances afford a favourable nidus for these plants. 



I shall notice two genera of this suborder, Aspergillus and 

 Botrytis. 



Aspergillus. 



Spores simple, globose, more or less disposed in moniliform 

 rows, closely packed upon the apices of the fertile flocci. 



Aspergillus glaucus, Lk. Blue Mould. Sterile flocci effused, 

 "white, fertile, simple, their apices capitate ; spores rather loosely 

 packed, at length glaucous. 



On various decaying substances, as bread, cheese, etc. 



This is the common " Blue Mould/' and too well known to 

 need any further description. 



