CLASSIFICATION 511 



D. concentrica. — More or less globose, smooth, brownish black, 

 solid ; flesh dry and brittle, almost black, marked ^Yith a number 

 of concentric rings which are seen when it is cut across, \-il in. 

 across, sometimes larger (spores elliptical, brown). 



If a mature specimen is placed on white paper, a dense mass of 

 spores, resembling a layer of soot, will be deposited on the paper 

 round the specimen. 



On decayed trunks, posts, etc. Solitary, or generally in clusters. 



Xylaria 



Ascophore vertical, stipitate, solid, externally black, inside white ; 

 perithecia embedded in the periphery (spores obliquely elliptical, 

 brown) . 



The ascophore grows erect, and is often more or less club-shaped, 

 and such species are often mistaken for species of Clavaria by be- 

 ginners. Most species produce a conidial form of reproduction 

 before the ascigerous form is developed. In some kinds the conidia 

 are snow-white, and produced in abundance at the tips of the 

 branches. 



X. polymorpha (PI. XXXVIII, fig. g). — Ascophores clustered, 

 cylindric-clavate or irregular in form, black, surface almost even, 

 flesh white, perithecia in a peripheral row (spores elliptical, brown). 



Ascophore 1-3 in. long and J in. or more in diameter. Resem- 

 bling black, finger-like bodies, narrowed at the base. 



On old trunks and stumps. Common. 



X. hypoxylon (PI. XXXVIII, fig. i). — Ascophore erect, rather 

 corky and tough, simple or branched, the tip often flattened and 

 more or less branched like a stag's antler, black, lower portion 

 velvety, tips at first densely powdered with snow-white meal or 

 conidia, which finally disappears, and the upper portion of the 

 ascophore becomes minutely nodulose or warted, owing to the 

 development of the perithecia, i-2|- in. high, rather slender. 



The ascophores are usually tufted, jet black, excepting when the 

 tips are snow-white with conidia. In this condition the fungus is a 

 very conspicuous object, and in some districts is known as the 

 " candle-snuff fungus." 



On stumps, chips, fallen branches, etc. Very common. 



X. caypophila. — Ascophore erect, unbranched, slender apex 

 pointed, black, tip at first powdered with white conidia, then naked 

 and black like the remainder ; stem long, root-like (sjiores ellip- 

 tical, brown). 



About I in. high, sometimes more, (iregarious. 



On old fallen beech-mast. Not uncommon. 



A', vaporaria. — Ascophores erect, conical, bearing perithecia 

 only on the lower half, the upper portion being of a brownish 



