for the Microscope. 55 



387. CINNABAR SPH^ERIA (Nectria dnnabarina). The 

 rough tuberculated perithecia of this Sphoeria occur in 

 tufts breaking through the bark of twigs. Their bright 

 vermillion colours make them conspicuous objects to the 

 naked eye. (PI. V., fig. 13.) If one of the perithecia is 

 crushed in a drop of water, the spores will be seen 

 enclosed in a long membranaceous asci. 



388. BERBERRY SPHOERIA (Sphceria Berbcridis}. Clus- 

 ters of black perithecia of this species occur on fallen twigs 

 of the berberry, bursting through the bark. The sporidia, 

 which are contained in asci, are amber-coloured, and 

 divided, both transversely and longitudinally, by septa in 

 a muriform manner. (PL V., fig. 46.) 



389. COMMON HERBACEOUS SPH/ERIA (Pleospora her- 

 baruni) has scattered, not aggregated, perithecia, more 

 or less immersed in the old stems of herbaceous plants, 

 on grasses, and the fallen leaves of trees and shrubs. 

 Very common, especially on old bean and pea stalks, 

 and the sporidia bear considerable resemblance to the 

 last. 



390. BIRCH MASSARIA (Massaria siparia}. The peri- 

 thecia are imbedded beneath the bark of twigs of the 

 birch, and cause little elevations which are sometimes 

 scarcely perceptible to the naked eye. The sporidia are 

 large, dark-coloured, and multiseptate, surrounded by a 

 transparent hyaline membrane. (PI. V., fig. 37.) 



391. MAPLE MASSARIA (Massaria gigaspora) has also 

 large and fine septate, coloured sporidia, surrounded by a 

 similar hyaline membrane, and is found in spring on 

 dead twigs of the hedge maple. (PL V., fig. 48.) A 

 variety is found on the cornel. 



392. ELM MASSARIA (Massaria amblyospora). Occurs 

 on elm twigs. The spores issue from the mouth of the 

 scarcely perceptible perithecia, and form a black stain on 

 the bark. The spores are egg-shaped and biseptate, 

 differing considerably from either of the foregoing. 



393. OAK VALSA ( Valsa taleola). Compound Sphaeriae 

 have the perithecia in definite clumps or masses, with the 

 necks often converging, sometimes united, or ending in a 



