D1SCOMYCETES. 45 



Sphaeria strobilina, Holle & Scliw., Deutsche Schw. i. n. 8. 



On scales of fallen fir-cones. 



Not a good Dichaena, and requires to be examined in a 

 living state. 



Pycnidia. Perithecia gregarious, irregular ; spores almond- 

 shaped, hyaline, endochrome bipartite. 



Hendersonia strobilina, Currey, Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. xxii. 

 p, 329 ; Cke., Hdbk., p. 932. 



Stagonospora strobilina, (Curr.) Sacc., Syll., vol. iii. n. 2457. 



On scales of dry fir-cones. 



DISCOMYCETES. 



The most important distinctive feature of the present great 

 group consists in the disc or hymenium being fully exposed 

 at maturity. 



There is a very wide range in size, form, texture, and 

 coloration, and as would be expected, there are transitions 

 to allied groups at various points. Phacidieae present many 

 features in common with the Hysteriaceae, differing mainly 

 in the greater exposure of the disc. Sticteae and Ascoboleae 

 together, in the frequent rudimentary condition of the asco- 

 phore, are in touch with the Gymnoascaceae. Finally the 

 Pezizae, through such species as Peziza vesiculosa, and more 

 especially Sphaerosoma ostiolatum, connect with the subter- 

 ranean, indehiscent Tuberaceae. 



Although not previously consistently included in a specific 

 diagnosis, the structure of the excipulum proves to be of great 

 value in the discrimination of closely allied species; and in 

 future greater attention will probably be devoted to its 

 structure. In the great majority of species, whatever the 

 internal structure of the excipulum or vegetative and pro- 

 tective cup-like portion surrounding the disc may be, the 

 external or outside portion shows a structure differing from 

 the internal portion, and is spoken of as the cortex; the 

 structure of this external or cortical portion is as a rule 

 parenchymatous, or composed of larger parallel, septate 

 hyphae than the innermost portion, and is usually coloured, 

 and is the part intended when the structure of the excipulum 



