90 DECOMPOSITION OF THE BEECH. 



ously constituted agents that accomplish the destruc- 

 tion of the foliage of plants. 



The bark, the wood, have other deputed powers of 

 destruction, many of which are very beautifully fabri- 

 cated. To dwell on them would extend too much these 

 remarks, designed rather as observations than details ; 

 yet I am tempted to introduce two. The sphaeria coryli 

 of Lamarck (peziza coryli) is occasionally to be found 

 in the month of January, and through the winter until 

 April, upon old hazel sticks, and engages our attention 

 by the regularity of its tubercles. The seed, or first 

 principle of production, whatever this may be, by means 

 unknown to us, has been fixed upon the inner bark of 

 the wood. Gently increasing, it bursts its way through 

 the outer bark, which now hangs as a fringe about it ; 

 the seed vessels expand, and a dusty substance, being 

 most probably the matter that continues the species, is 

 dispersed around. A singular plant (sphaeria faginea ?) 

 is found upon the decayed wood of the beech-tree,* in 

 the earlier part of the spring. It appears on the surface 

 of it in little nodules, which, gradually uniting and in- 

 creasing, form a regular black crust. Upon examination 

 we find, that little round bodies have forced a passage 

 through the outer bark, and enlarged into small round 

 tubes, which ultimately become the conductors of the 

 seminal dust, discharged from round, beaked seed 

 vessels, embedded beneath upon the inner bark. This 

 plant presents us with a very remarkable instance of 

 the attention of nature to the preservation of minute 

 and little observed things; the protection of the seed 

 vessel, and the dissemination, being most particularly 

 and carefully provided for. 



These specimens are only individuals among hun- 

 dreds, which present us with a world of beauty, variety, 

 and wonder. I would not wish it to be understood that 

 it is maintained, by any thing here intimated, that the 



* I am uncertain whether this plant has been noticed. Sphaeria 

 granulosa of Sowerby, and sp. tentaculata of Batsch, may be it in a 

 young stage of growth; sp. faginea of Lamarck does not accord well 

 with it, 



