CRYPTOGAMIA ALGIE. B6j 



The plant alTumes a very diflerenc afpcdl, accord- 

 ing to the age, fituation, and other accidents of 

 its growth ; but may be, in general, readily dif- 

 • tinguiflicd by its fructifications, which are fun- 

 gous tubercles, of a fine fcarlet colour, placed 

 on the rim of the cup, or the tr p of the (lalk. 

 • Thefe tubercles in decay turn to a dark fufcous 



colour. 

 I'he ftalks are tubular, generally v,hite, fo.metimes 

 greenifii, or fometirncs fufcous, ufually covered 

 with green farinaceous warts, or minute fcaly 

 leaves. 

 At firll they appear cylindrical, without a cup at 

 the fummit, but tipp'd with fmall red tubercles. 

 Dillen. t. 14./. 7. A. B. 

 Afterwards they dilate at the top, and forln a cup' 

 with minute feflile tubercles on the rim. DiUem 

 t. 14./. 7. E.F. 

 Thefe tubercles in a little time encreafe in fize, and 

 become elevated on illort thick footflalks. Dil- 

 ten. t. iA-f' 7- ^^'^' 

 Thus far the plant feems to be in its natural flate ; 

 but it frequently aiTumes a monftrous appear- 

 ance, and becomes proliferous •, producing one 

 while new cups out of the rim of the fecond, 

 and fo on even to four flages, each cup produc- 

 ing large fcarlet tuberchs. Dillen. t. 14. /. 7, 

 K» Li. 

 Or at other times producing new flalks and cups 

 out of the middle of the lower cup inftead of 

 K k k 2 the 



