CLASSIFICATION 509 



Differs from Daldinia in the flesh not showing concentric zones 

 or hnes. The surface of the ascophore is usually. minutely warted 

 owing to the slight projection of the mouths of the perithecia. 

 When a section of the ascophore is examined under a pocket lens, 

 the perithecia, more or less flask-bodies containing the spores, are 

 seen arranged in one or more rows close to the circumference. 

 These perithecia contain numerous asci, each of which contains 8 

 brown spores. These details of the structure can only be seen when 

 a thin section of the periphery of the ascophore is examined under 

 a microscope. 



H. coccinciim (PI. XXXVUI, fig. 3). — x\scophore subglobose, 

 vermilion-brown, bright black within, surface rough with the pro- 

 jecting mouths of the ovate perithecia, about \ in. across, but size 

 variable (spores elliptical, dark brown). 



Most frequently round and about the size of a pea, but not un- 

 frequently several grow into each other, forming large patches. 

 When young the ascophore is covered with rusty brown, tufted 

 and branched strands of hyphae which bear minute conidia. These 

 eventually disappear, leaving the ascophore naked and more or 

 less smooth, afterwards warted with the mouths of the projecting 

 perithecia. At this stage the surface is bright rust-colour bordering 

 on vermilion, becoming rusty black when old. 



On old beech trunks, etc. Common. 



H. jiisciim. — Ascophore convex or cushion-shaped, brown or 

 purple-brown, at length black, 1-3 lines across, perithecia globose 

 (spores almond-shaped, dark brown). 



Forming subglobose warts smaller than split peas. At first 

 covered with a rusty or purple-brown bloom, gradually increasing 

 in thickness, at length naked and black. When old, pierced with 

 numerous minute perforations. 



Gregarious on hawthorn, hazel, etc. Common. 



H. yubiginosum. — Ascophore crust-like, effused for 2-4 in., thin, 

 covered with bright rust-coloured powder, at length naked and 

 black ; mouths of the perithecia rather prominent (spores ellip- 

 tical, dark brown). 



Forming longitudinally spreading patches. Perithecia prominent 

 on the surface. 



On decorticated wood. 



Daldinia 



Ascophore sessile, subglobose, surface smooth, with a ])erip]ieral 

 layer of oblong perithecia opening to the surface, blackisli, inter- 

 nally blackish and distinctly concentrically zoned. 



Differs from Hypoxylon in having a large numl er of concentric 

 zones or rings in the flesh. 



