958 XIIT. FUNGI. 



name of M. Pleopos. Cyttaria Gunnii, Berteroi and Hoolieri grow on the small brandies of several species 

 of evergi-een Beeches {Fagus Cunninghamii, &c.) in the southern hemisphere, where they are found in 

 immense quantities in the form of little fleshj^ cartilaginous masses pierced with holes ; they serve as food to 

 the natives during part of the year. The PezizcB are sometimes most brilliantly coloured ; they form a 

 large genus, the species of which are difficult to define : some are edible, as P. coMeata, &c. It was the 

 beauty of the scarlet and orange Ptziza which attracted two illustrious mycologists, Persoon and 

 Battarra, to the study of Fungi ; of whom Persoon was the first to methodize the order. Amongst 

 the most curious genera of ectothecal ThecasporecB are Phacidium, Hysterium and Stegilla, the recep- 

 tacles of which open either transversely or by a longitudinal slit, or by strips resembling those of a 

 Geastrmii. 



The Endothecal Tliecasjporece diff\;r much in appearance : from the epiphyllous Erysiphe, formed of 

 cobwebby white filaments mixed with small blackish globose conceptacles, surrounded by extremely 

 elegant organs, to the Truffles properly so called, every transition and every degree of complication of 

 structure is found. The genus Splusria, ia spite of its dismemberment, is the most numerous in species 

 and the most singular of the group, being represented throughout the world and on all plants. The spores 

 of several species germinate within the body of certain caterpillars, whence they emerge, still growing. 

 We know the history of S. milUaris, which has been cited as an example of the transformation of an 

 animal into a vegetable ; S. Rohertsii, of New Zealand, and S. sinensis have a similar origin ; the latter 

 species is in much repute in China, where it is sold in small bundles as a marvellous medicine. Under the 

 name of Truffle {Twber cibarium) three species are confounded ; they are black and rugged externally, and 

 composed of a mass of tissue, the interior of which is black, and traversed by white veins. The thecae, 

 which contain 4-8 spores, give its black colour to this Fungus. Young Truffles are white, because they are 

 composed of a homogeneous tissue ; thej' become black with age, owing to the presence of the reproduc- 

 tive bodies, at which period they have acquired their full taste and smell. The great profits which 

 would result from the cultivation of the edible Truffles have often stimulated efforts to grow them ; but 

 eveiy such attempt has failed. If under some circumstances these valuable Fungi have appeared in 

 consequence of sowing acorns, it was soon observed that their appearance was very ephemeral, and that 

 the culture yielded irregular profits. The Black Truffle is not the only edible species of the genus. T. 

 magnatum, griseum, album, &c., are much sought in Hungary, Italy and Algeria, where T. album is 

 known under the name of Terfez. The Onygencs, which partake of the characters of Tuber and SphcKria, 

 gi-ow on all epidermal animal substances, such as the hoofs of horses, the horns of oxen, feathers, hairs 

 and even old cloth rags. The species of Erysiplie are most curious in point of organization ; they are called 

 Mildews \_pollard, Fr.], in allusion to the leaves on which they are found looking as if powdered with 

 flour. Erysiphes are in general innocuous ; but when tbey completely overrun certain plants, they arrest 

 the vegetation or the flowering, as may be seen in Hop plants, which they damage considerably. The leaves 

 of our large Cucurbitacem are sometimes whitened by an Erysiphe, which, however, does not seem to 

 hurt the plant much. 



Teibe III. GLmOSPOmJJJE. 



Spores springing from a clinodium covering wholly or partially the surface of 

 the receptacle, or enclosed in a conceptacle. 



Section I. — Receptacle fleshy, sessile or pedicelled, convex or concave, covered 

 by the clinodium [Ectoclinal Glinosporew), 



PEINCIPAL GENERA. 



Tubercularia. Stilbum. Melanconium. ^ Uredo. ^ Puccinia. 



iEgerita. Graphiura. Stilbospora. Uromyces. Phragmidium. 



Fusarium. Dictyosporium. Polycystis. Triphragmium. 



Selenosporium. Dinemasporium. Ustilago. Coryneum. 



Sphacelia. Asterosporium. Myrothecium. . Thecaphora. 



