252 On the Fungi of the neighbourhood of Bristol. 



ceased to be distinctive, as other Sphceri^ growing from the larvae 

 of insects have been discovered ; indeed I have seen gigantic 

 specimens from New Zealand on caterpillars. There appear to be 

 two very distinct forms, or rather two species, described under 

 Sph. entomorrhiza, one with a slender stem and exserted ostiola, 

 and the other with a more robust stem and perithecia entirely 

 immersed. 

 Mr. Berkeley says, Dickson's plant is evidently altered from the 

 larvae having been buried in the ground y but there is no evidence 

 of this either from the figure or description, and I humbly conceive 

 the exserted ostiola render it specifically distinct*. I would propose 

 to call the original plant Sph. Dicksoni, and the variety described in 

 the * English Flora' by Mr. Berkeley, Sph. Berkelcei, in compliment 

 to that profound mycologist. I possess a single specimen of the last 

 plant or variety gathered at Stockwood, Somerset, April 1836; it 

 precisely accords with Mr. Berkeley's description ; the roots embrace 

 as it were the caterpillar, which is hardened, as if filled with the 

 matter of which the fungus is composed. 

 Sph. lanciformis, Sow. On birch bark. Not uncommon. 

 Sph. leipheemia, Fr. On dead oak branches. Very common. 

 Sph. incana, species nova ? Section villose. Perithecia densely 

 crowded, globose, covered with white mealy down. Ostiola pa- 

 pillary, black, shining. Growing on low dung in dense patches. 

 Stapleton Wood, August 24, 1839. 

 An exceedingly neat Sphceria : the ostiola and a little of the upper 

 portion of the perithecia are bare. I can find no description appli- 

 cable to this plant. 



Sph. strobilina, Holl. and Schum. On cones of Scotch fir, Stapleton. 

 Sph. atrovirens, A. and S. y Rusci. On dead Ruscus acideatus. 



Not uncommon. 

 Sph. setacea, Pers. On dead leaves of the Pyrus Aria, Redland. 

 Sph. vagans lamiocola, Berk. Fung. Exsiccat. On L. album, every- 

 where. This, or a nearly allied species, occurred on the leaves 

 of Lychnis diurna. 

 Geaster rufescens, Pers. In woods on a clay soil ; not uncommon 

 with us. There is a nearly allied species, occasionally found on 

 open downs, with the outer peridium rose-coloured. 

 Diderma cyanescens, Fr. On dead oak leaves. Nightingale Valley. 

 Didymium hemisphericum. Bull. On twigs, in a ditch, Ashby, April. 

 Trichiafallax. On rotten wood, Stapleton. 



* The degree of exsertion of the spherules in Sphceria militans is ex- 

 tremely variable, therefore a safe character can scarcely be drawn from this 

 circumstance. — Ed. 



