56 One TJwusand Objects 



disc. The Oak Valsa is common in March on almost 

 every fallen twig of oak. The sporidia are oval, and 

 divided by a septum, with slender transparent hair-like 

 appendages at each extremity, and one at each side at 

 the septum. (PL V., fig. 45.) 



394. COMMON VALSA (Valsa letphemia). Even more 

 common on oak twigs than the last, with a more distinct 

 corky disc, and the sporidia of nearly the same size and 

 form, but without appendages. 



395. HAIRY WHITE PEZIZA (Peziza vttlosc!).Qi equal 

 interest with Sphaeriae are the little fleshy cups so com- 

 monly to be found on decaying plants. These are some- 

 times several inches in expanse, when growing on the 

 ground ; but on herbaceous plants, twigs, and dead leaves, 

 are usually not much larger than a good-sized pin's head. 

 The present is a hairy species, and is found on nettles, 

 &c. The disc consists of a number of asci and barren 

 threads, packed closely side by side. If a portion is 

 crushed in a drop of water on a glass slide, the clear oval 

 spores will be seen in the asci. 



396. WINE-GLASS PEZIZA (Peziza cyathoidea}. This is 

 a smooth dirty-white species, with the cup on a long 

 stalk, so as to resemble a miniature wine-glass. Common 

 on the dead stems of plants. (PL V., fig. 35.) 



397. TRUFFLE (Tuber tzstivuiii) is a large, subterra- 

 neous, rough-coated fungus, the size of a small potato. 

 It is noticed here on account of its singular spores, which 

 are contained in cavities of the substance. There are 

 several British species, which have spores differing in 

 appearance. (PL V., fig. 17.) 



398. LATTICED FUNGUS (Sfemonitisfusca). This curious 

 little fungus grows in tufts on rotten wood. The long 

 stem is in its upper portion branched and interlaced, 

 bearing a great number of minute spores, enclosed in a 

 brown membrane, and forming a sausage-shaped head. 



399. RED TRICHIA (Trichia rubtformis). Growing 

 also on rotten wood, in clusters of claret-coloured, small, 

 pear-shaped heads, which burst and expose the powder- 

 like spores, mixed with spiral threads spiny throughout 



