198 CHAPTERS ON FUNGI. [July, 



The little black spots, so often to be seen on decaying branches 

 of trees, mostly belong to this genus. 



Sph^eria Hypoxylon, Linn. Flat-horned Sphceria. Com- 

 pound, club-shaped, stipitate, simple or branched, corky, com- 

 pressed, at first pulverulent with wliite meal, then naked, stem 

 villous. 



On sticks, stumps of trees, etc. Very common. 



A common species on old stumps, etc., everywhere. It is 

 from 2 to 3 inches high, at first white, with black tips to the 

 branches, then becoming black, and the stem villose. The peri- 

 thecia are borne at the apices of the branches, which become 

 swollen when in fruit, but the plant is often barren. This 

 Fungus was -formerly associated with the Clavaria, and called 

 Clavaria Hypoxylon. The asci are long, and the sporidia cymbi- 

 form, of a brown colour, and each contains two sporidiola. 



Sph^ria disciformis, Hoffm. Disc-like Sphceria. Compound, 

 orbicular, plain, even black, whitish within; perithecia attenu- 

 ated into a slender neck ; ostiola punctiform. — Grev. So. Crypt. 

 Fit. 314. 



On dry branches of Beech, etc. Common. 



About 2 lines broad, at first reddish, then becoming brown 

 and finally black. It forms little circular raised spots on the 

 afiected branch, surrounded by lacinife of the cuticle, which has 

 been torn asunder by the bursting forth of the Fungus. The 

 disc is dotted over with the ostiola of the perithecia. The asci 

 are slender, and the sporidia simple, oblong and curved. 



SpHiERiA cinnabarina, Tod. Vermilion SphcetHa. Compound, 

 ceespitose; perithecia globose, corrugated, vermilion, at length 

 brownish; ostiola papillseform. — Grev. Sc. Crypt. Fl. t. 135. 



On dead branches of trees. Extremely common. 



Forming little clusters of brownish-red capsules (perithecia), 

 which, when examined by the lens, are found to be rough and 

 granulated, and which somewhat resemble strawberries. The 

 asci are short and obtuse, and the sporidia shorty oblong, and 

 simple (or sometimes septate). 



Suborder 5. Perisporiacei. 

 Perithecia free, mouthless, at length dehiscent, often sur- 

 rounded by threads distinct from the mycelium, and called ful- 

 cra. Asci often absorbed at an early stage, springing from the 

 base. 



