SPERMACOSE. 



SPH^EROCOCCUS. 



SPERMACOSE, a genus of plants belonging to the natural order 

 Jlubiacece, so named from the seeds being terminated by two remark- 

 able points. The genus is characterised by having the calyx 2-4-den- 

 tate; corolla 4-lobed; stigma bifid or entire; capsule 2-celled, crowned 

 with the limb of the calyx, which is sometimes obliterated. Seeds 

 oval, oblong, marked in the inner side with a longitudinal furrow. 

 The species are very common and abundant in tropical parts of the 

 world ; and have usually quadrangular stems and branches, with 

 small white or blue flowers. Some of the species, as S. Poaya and 

 S. ferruyinca, are useful, like other plants of the same family, in having 

 roota which form substitutes for ipecacuanha, 



SPERMADICTYON, a genus of Plants belonging to the natural 

 order Rubiacece, named from onripua, seed, and Si'm-i/ov, a net, from the 

 manner in which the seeds cover the placenta. The genus is charac- 

 terised by having the calyx-tube ovate, 5-partite, persistent ; corolla 

 densely pubescent ; tube long, straight, 5-lobed ; stamens 5, included 

 within the corolla-tube ; stigma 5-cleft ; capsule crowned by the calyx, 

 contains 5 nuta. The species form shrubs, with white and light blue 

 very fragrant flowers, with leaves lance-shaped, shortly petioled ; 

 stipules short. They are natives of Hindustan. .S. suaveolens, the 

 miltonia of Roxburgh, ascends the Himalayas to elevations of 

 feet, and has been cultivated in this country as a stove-plant. 

 J ERMESTES, Swainson, a sub-genus of FringUlidce. 



SPERMOE'DIA, the name given by Fries to a certain altered form 

 of the seeds of rye and other grasses, and to which the name Ergot 

 and Spurred Grain has been commonly applied. The bodies to which 

 this name is given are solid elongated masses, growing from the inside 

 of the ovary of Grasses, rootless, of a firm mealy substance, with a 

 concrete scaly or powdery crust. Fries says they have no proper 

 frotification ; but other authors state that the interior is composed of 

 flocci and sporules firmly compacted into a solid homogeneous mass. 

 The precise nature of these grains, both on account of their peculiar 

 medicinal effects and their poisonous quality when taken as food, have 

 excited much attention amongst botanical observers. Wildenow sup- 

 posed the Ergot to be merely a diseased state of the grain, and stated 

 that he could produce it at pleasure by excessive watering. General 

 Field made some observations which led him to suppose that it origi- 

 nated from the puncture of insects. De Candolle and others more 

 recently determined that the Ergot was a distinct parasitic plant, 

 developing itself from the ovary of Grasses, and referred it to the 

 genus Sclerotium. Fries, in his 'Systema Mucologicum,' considered 

 the Ergot to be a diseased state of the grain, and placed it iu the 

 doubtful genus Sprrmoedia. More recently this production has been 

 carefully investigated by Mr. Edward Quekett, who communicated 

 the results of his observations to the Linnaean Society in November 

 1838. From his examinations, it appears that the great mass of the 

 Ergot consists of the albuminous matter of the grain in a diseased 

 state. The interior of these grains had been described as being filled 

 by flocci and sporules compacted together ; but on examination with 

 the microscope, after the outside was scraped off, the interior was 

 found to be composed of irregular cells filled with globules of a fatty 

 oil. The cause of this changed state of the internal parts of the 

 grain was found on the outside of the ergotised grain, where a number 

 of very small oval or elliptical bodies were found, about l-6000th of 

 an inch in diameter, and containing within them a number of smaller 

 granules. These were found to be the sporidia and sporules of a 

 fungoid plant, which, attached to filaments, developed themselves 

 early in the growth of the grain, and produced its diseased state. 

 Mr. Quekett baa since succeeded in obtaining ergotised rye by applying 

 to healthy plants of rye water containing the sporules of this fungus 

 diffused through it ; thus affording additional proof that plants 

 become diseased by imbibing the seeds or sporules of other plants 

 from the soil in which they grow. For the plant as above described, 

 Mr. Quekett proposes the name Eryotcetia abortam. It belongs to the 

 tribe Aluccdinu and sub-order Concomycetes of the order Fungacece of 

 Fries, thus occupying a different position to the Sclerotium Clavus of 

 De Candolle, or the Hpermoedia Clavui of Fries. [EROOT.] 



SPERMO'PHAGA (Swainson), a sub-genus of Pringillida. 



SPERMO'PHILA (Swainson), a sub-genus of Frinyillida;. 



SPERMOPIIILUS. [MCRID&] 



SPERMOPHORE. [FRUIT.] 

 IPERMOBPI'ZA (G. R. Gray), a sub-genus of Pringillida. 



SPH^ERALCE'A, a genus of Plants belonging to the natural order 

 Malvaceae. It is characterised by a 3-leaved deciduous involucre ; 5- 

 cleft calyx ; 5 obliquely emarginate petals ; numerous stamens united 

 together, the stamen-tube being longer than the petals ; many-celled 

 ovary, with three seeds in each cell ; styles consolidated and stigmas 

 capitate ; a globose umbilicated downy capsule, with cells dehiscent 

 at the back. The species are trees or shrubs with toothed or 3-5-lobcd 

 Vave". Flowers on peduncles, 1- or many-flowered, of a reddish or 

 flesh colour. This genus was separated from Malra, which it greatly 

 resembles, by Augusts St.-Hilaire. With the exception of one, a native 

 of the Cape of Good Hope, the species are all found in South America. 

 S. Caplatina, the Cisplatine Globe-Mallow, has a slender shrubby 

 stem, ovate 3-lobed toothed or crenate leaves, tomentose beneath ; 

 axillary racemose flowers. It is a native of Brazil, in the western 

 part of the Cisplatine province. It is used medicinally in Brazil, in 

 the same manner aa march-mallows are in 



HAT. IIIST. DIV. VOL. IV. 



SPH/ERANTHUS, a genus of Plants belonging to the natural 

 order Composite, so named from atycupa., a globe, and &vBos, a flower, 

 on account of the globular form of the heads of the flowers. The 

 species are small herbs common in tropical parts of the Old World, 

 with alternate decurrent leaves. Flowers tubular, external ones 

 female, many-rowed, the central onea male with imperfect style; 

 receptacle naked. Pappus wanting. S. mollis is common in most 

 parts of the plains of India, and has a strong aromatic odour, and is 

 used by the natives in medicine. <S. microcephalies (S. Indicus, Linn.) 

 has also an aromatic odour, and is employed as a diuretic in Java, 

 according to Dr. Horsfield, and as an anthelmintic in India, according 

 to Rheede, and in fevers, according to others. 



SPH^E'REDA, a fossil Plant from the Yorkshire coast. 



SPH^E'RIA, a genus of Plants belonging to the natural order 

 Fungacece. This genus is known by possessing a rounded external 

 receptacle, which opens at the top with a minute orifice. Within the 

 receptacle, the sporidia, or seed-vessels, are found inclosed iu tubes 

 which are arranged in one or more rows. These tubes are called 

 Asci. The size of the rounded receptacles of these Fungi varies from 

 that of a millet-seed to that of a small marble. They are generally 

 found upon decaying vegetable matter, and seem as if they were 

 immersed in the substance on which they grow. Their most frequent 

 position is on the bark of the stem and branches of decayed trees. 

 They are however by no means confined to this situation, being 

 frequently found on decaying leaves, on the stems of grasses, and on 

 the surface of decaying wood. Some of them are found occupying 

 the bark, leaves, &c. of plants that are still living, but in most 

 instances this must bo looked upon as indicative of a loss of vitality 

 in the part of the plant thus attacked. Cine of the species, S. mill- 

 tarit, is remarkable for growing from the dead bodies of caterpillars 

 and other decaying animal matters. Another species, the /S. cntomo- 

 rhiza, is also found in the same positions. 



Although the plants of this genus are so simple in their structure, 

 yet their receptacle, with its contents, presents BO great variety in 

 form, size, colour, &c., that upwards of 600 different species have been 

 described. Of these, 201 species have been recorded as British, by 

 the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, in the 2nd vol. of Hooker's ' British Flora.' 

 These plants are very generally diffused throughout the world in the 

 temperate zones. So abundant arc they, that scarcely a decaying 

 stick can be taken up in autumn without presenting some form of 

 them. 



Like the great mass of the vast order of Funyi, the species of 

 Spltaria have not been used as food or medicine, or cultivated as 

 ornament. Their great use in the economy of nature appears to be 

 the appropriating those elements as materials of their growth, which, 

 if left unconsumed, would become a source of deterioration to the 

 atmosphere. As examples of this genus we shall select a few of the 

 more common of the British species. 



S. hypoxylon, Flat-Horned Sphocria. Receptacles of a black colour, 

 of a corky consistence, single or branched, compressed, at first covered 

 over with a mealy powder, then becoming naked, the stem villous. 

 This is a very common species, and is found on sticks and stumps of 

 trees. Unlike most of the species, it has a great tendency to pport, 

 being sometimes exceedingly branched, sometimes palmate, and some- 

 times quite simple. 



S. stigma, Black-Dotted Spha>ria. Effused, often nearly surround- 

 ing the branch, flat, even, at length becoming black, the orifices nearly 

 plain. In the course of its growth, it pushes off the cuticle of the 

 lark of the stick on which it grows ; it is at first brown, and then 

 becomes black. It is perhaps the most common of all the species. 



S. verrucceformis, Wart-Like Sphxria. Receptacles ovate with a 

 short neck ; plant of a black colour. Found on branches of the hazel 

 and beech. 



S. qualernala, Quaternate Spbicria. Receptacles generally grouped 

 four together, naked ; orifices collected together. It is found on beech- 

 trees alone. Many other forms are found on only one kind of plant. 



S. sanyuinea, Blood-Coloured Sphseria. The receptacles scattered, 

 very small, ovate ; papillary of a blood-red colour. It is very com- 

 mon on all kinds of decaying wood and sticks, and is easily recognised 

 by its red colour ; there are however many other forms with a red 

 colour, but not so common as this. 



(Fries, Systema Mycologicum ; Hooker, British Flora; Grcville, 

 Scottish Cryptogamie Flora.) 



SPH^EROCA'RYA, a genus of Plants belonging to the natural 

 order Rhamnaccce, so named from <r<t>a.ipa, a sphere, and itapuov, a nut. 

 The species forms moderate-sized trees in Nepaul. The calyx is 5- 

 parted. Petals 5, and alternate with the 5 stamens, which, like the 

 petals, are inserted iuto the calyx, and with 5 fringed scales placed 

 between the stamens, and opposite the calycina segments. Drupe 

 pear-shaped, containing a smooth round nut. S'. edulis is so called 

 from its fruit being eaten and relished by the Nepaulese, though not 

 very palatable to a European taste. This tree is a native of the forests 

 of Nepaul, and has alternate, ovate-entire, exstipulate leaves, with 

 axillary nnd terminal villous racemes of small greenish-coloured 

 flowers, which are without odour. 



SPH^EROCOCCITES, a genus of Fucoidal Fossil Plants, from the 

 Oolitic series of the Yorkshire coast. (Presl.) 



SPHyEROCOCCUS, a genus of plants belonging to the natural 



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