FUNGI — OHAKACE^. 651 



disease in silkworms caused by a fungus, Cladosporium (Fleospora) her- 

 harum, is called gattine, being a corruption of catkin, from the 

 appearance presented, in the same way as the name musoardine is 

 given from the fancied resemblance to a little cake, or a kind of pas- 

 tille, which the dead caterpillars resemble. Sphceria sinensis, a cele- 

 brated Chinese drug, grows on a caterpillar ; Spharia Roberisii is 

 developed on the larva of Hepialus virescens in New Zealand; and 

 Sphceria Taylori on an Australian caterpillar. Sphceria sobolifera, ento- 

 morhiza, militaris, and others, also grow on animals. Particular kinds 

 of mould sometimes grow on the mucous membrane of birds. Some 

 mycodermatous Fungi are connected with certain cutaneous and other 

 diseases in the human species. Thus, cellular filaments called Porri- 

 gophytes are found in the crusts of Porrigo favosa, Mentagraphytes in 

 those of Mentagra or Sycosis menti, and Aphthaphytes in Aphthce. 

 These are all forms of mould. The following analysis of Puif-balls 

 (Lycoperdon giganteum) is given by Professor Church. Ash contains 46 

 per cent of Phosphoric acid and 35 per cent of Potash. These 

 elements exist in small quantities in the soil, but are largely accumu- 

 lated in plants. It is therefore inferred that the Puif-ball receives its 

 phosphorus and potash from the stores already accumulated iu the 

 higher plants. Fresh Puff-baUs contain 90 per cent water, 5| per cent 

 albuminoids, 2 per cent cellulose, and abput ^ per cent ash. When 

 the water is driven off, the nitrogenous elements (albuminoids) con- 

 stitute 66 per cent of the residue. The spores of the Puff-ball, 

 when swallowed in large quantities, have given rise to severe diarrhoea. 



Order 223.— CHAEACEiS, the Ohara Family. Aquatic plants, 

 with tubular jointed stems and verticillate branches, (fig. 244, p. 152) ; 

 stem formed either by a single tube or by several parallel tubes sur- 

 rounding a central one. Eeproductive organs of two kinds (fig. 486, 

 p. 274) : — 1. Antheridia of a rounded form called globules, sessile in 

 the branches, consisting of 8 valves, which cover confervoid filaments, 

 each joint of which contains a spermatozoid bearing 2 cilia (fig. 403, 

 p. 234 ; fig. 487, p. 274). 2. Oval nucules or axillary sporangia, 

 formed by a large central cell (spore) with 5 elongated cells wound 

 spirally round it, surmounted by a corona of 5 teeth. The nucules, 

 after being fertilised by the globules, fall off and germinate, forming 

 new plants. — The plants are found in aU parts of the world, especially 

 in temperate regions. Genus, 1 ; species about 40, of which 16 are 

 British. Example — Chara (including Nitella). 



The Charse grow in stagnant water. Some have the stem 

 encrusted with carbonate of lime, which renders them brittle. In the 

 unencrusted NiteUas, the movement of rotation in the protoplasmic 

 contents of the tubes is well seen (fig. 245, p. 152). Some of the 

 calcareous Charas are used for polishing plate. The Charas have 

 frequently a peculiarly fetid odour, especially when decaying, and their 



