204 



the pcridia of Rcestelia appeared, and were developed. ** This 

 trial of spores," says (Ersted, " has conduced to the result ex- 

 pected, and proves that the teleutosporcs of G-ymnosporangium, 

 when transported upon the sorb, give rise to a totally different; 

 fungus, the Rcestelia cormita, that is to say, that an alternate 

 generation comes between these fungi. They appertain in con- 

 sequence to a single species, and the Gymnosporanyium ceased to 

 Lie an independent species, and must be considered as synony- 

 mous with the first generation of Ewstdia. The spores have 

 been transported upon young shoots of the juniper-tree, and 

 have now commenced to produce some mycelium in the bark. 

 There is no doubt that in next spring it will result in Gt/mno- 

 sporangium." 



Subsequently the same learned professor instituted similar 

 experiments upon other hosts, with the spores of Podisoma, and 

 from thence he concluded that Eoestelia and Podisoma, in all 

 their known species, were but forms the one of the other. 

 Hitherto we are not aware that these results have been con- 

 firmed, or that the sowing of the spores of Exstelia on juniper 

 resulted in Podisoma. Such experiments should be received 

 always with care, and not too hastily accepted in their apparent 

 results as proven facts. Who shall say that Ecestelia would not 

 have appeared on Sorlus within two months without the sowing 

 of Podisoma spores? because it is not by any means uncommon 

 for that fungus to appear upon that plant. It is true many 

 mycologists write and speak of Rosstclia and Podisoma (or 

 Gymnotporangium) as identical ; but, as we think, without the 

 evidence being so complete as to be beyond suspicion. It is, 

 nevertheless, a curious fact that in Europe the number of species 

 of Ecsstelia and Podisoma are equal, if one species be excluded, 

 which is certainly not a good Podisoma, for the reception of 

 which a new genus has been proposed.* 



Amongst the ascigerous fungi will be found a curious but inte- 

 resting genus formerly called Cordyceps, but for which Tulasne, 

 in consequence of the discovery of secondary forms of fruit, 



* This is Podisoma, fuliicola, B. and Br., or, as proposed iu "Journ. Quekett 

 Club," ii. p. 267, Sarcos'roma Berkeley*',, C. 



