294 TEXT-BOOK OF FUNGI 



The colour of the spores, and the number and arrange- 

 ment of the septa, are the principal features used by 

 Saccardo for the discrimination of genera throughout his 

 work on the fungi. 



The Sphaeriaceae are distinguished from the Peri- 

 sporieae by the presence of an ostiolum ; from the 

 Hypocreae by the black or dusky perithecia, and their 

 coriaceous or carbonaceous texture. 



Most of the species are saprophytic on dead wood, bark, 

 or leaves. Some, however, are destructive parasites. 



Distribution general. 



Hypocreae 



The present family is characterised by the perithecia 

 being of a comparatively soft and fleshy nature, never rigid 

 and carbonaceous as in Sphaeriaceae. Furthermore, the 

 perithecia are clearly coloured as a rule, red or orange 

 being the predominating tint. This is well seen in species 

 of Nectria. The spores escape through a definite ostiolum 

 or mouth. The stroma, when present, is fairly soft and 

 fleshy, sometimes brightly coloured as in some species of 

 Cordyceps, where it is erect, more or less club-shaped, or 

 resembling the inflorescence of the reed-mace in miniature. 

 In some species of Hypocrea the stroma forms a fleshy, 

 expanded, cushion-shaped mass. Asci commonly 8-spored, 

 in a few instances 4-spored or many-spored. Spores gene- 

 rally hyaline, rarely brown. Conidial phases not uncommon. 



Some species of Nectria, Hypocrea^ Claviceps, Hypo- 

 crellci) etc., are parasitic on higher plants \ Hypomyces and 

 species of Claviceps are parasites on other fungi ; Cordyceps 

 are parasitic on insects. 



Widely distributed. 



