486 FUNGUS-FLOEA. 



Elvela clamta, ScliaefFer, t. 149 (1774). 



Spathularia flavida, Pers., Coram. Fung. Clav., p. 34 (1797) ; 

 Phil., Brit. Disc, p. 30, pi. ii. fig. 7; Cooke, Myoogr., 

 fig. 342. 



On the ground among pine leaves or moss. 



Gregarious ; variable in shape and size, but distinguished 

 by the flattened ascophore adnate to and running for some 

 distance down opposite sides of the stem. The hypothecium 

 consists of branched, septate, interwoven, colourless hyphae 

 of variable thickness, some are 6-8 /a thick, and when treated 

 ■with dilute potassic hydrate and afterwards stained with 

 anilin blue, show continuity of protoplasm very beautifully, 

 the ends of adjoining cells being connected by a single, 

 delicate, central strand as in many of the red seaweeds. 

 Greville says the spores are discharged elastically. 



Specimen examined in Berk., Brit. Fung., n. 257 ; Eehm, 

 Ascom., n. 426; and Flora Ess. Austro.-Huiig. n. 1974. 



VIBEISSEA. Fries, (figs. 32-35, p. 188.) 



Aquatic ; ascophore sessile or stipitate, the disc becoming 

 convex, somewhat fleshy ; asci elongated, cylindric-clavate, 

 apex more or less narrowed, attenuated downwards into a 

 long, slender pedicel, 8-spored ; spores needle-shaped, almost 

 as long as the ascus, arranged in a parallel fascicle, hyaline, 

 escaping from the ascus and remaining fixed to the surface 

 of the disc for some time at maturity ; paraphyses present. 



Vihrissea, Fries, Syst. Myc, ii. p. 31 ; Phil., Brit. Disc, 

 p. 316; Sacc, SylL, viii. p. 51 (in part). 



The species grow on wood or dead branches, either com- 

 pletely submerged in water or in very damp places. At 

 maturity the long, slender spores escape from the ascus and 

 remain for a time attached by their basal end to the disc, 

 giving it a minutely velvety and glistening appearance due 

 to their rapid vibratory movements. 



Saccardo has broken up the genus, as here understood, 

 into two genera, placing the stipitate forms in Vihrissea, 

 which is located next to Spathularia, while the sessile forms 

 ■are included in Oorgoniceps and placed next to the genus 

 Belonidiiim in the Pezizae. 



