402 POLYMORPHIC FUNGI. 
Carpologia,” have given a great number of instances of polymor- 
phism. We have no reason to doubt that in many cases, perhaps 
most, they are quite correct, but even some of their conclusions 
require verification before they can be accepted as established fact. 
As an illustration of the results determined with regard to one 
species by these authors, we may instance the very common Sphe- 
ria (Pleospora) herbarum. It occurs on the dead stems of herba- 
ceous plants, on the leaves of some trees, and even sometimes on 
decaying Alge. On pea and bean stems it is usually plentiful. 
In fact, it is almost the commonest Sphæria, and easily reco 
The sporidia are, of course, contained in elongated, transparent, 
membranaceous asci; they are of a yellowish-brown or 
color, ovate-oblong, and divided by numerous septa, with trans- 
'verse divisions. The asci are enclosed within carbonaceous peri- 
Equally as common, and even more so, is a mould which forms 
sooty or dark olive spots, or patches, on all kinds of decaying 
vegetable substances. This is called Cladosporium herbarum. It 
may be characterized as cosmopolitan, and one of the commonest, 
if not the commonest, of fungi. Under the microscope this 
mould consists of a profuse mycelium, from which arise tufts of 
jointed threads, mixed with elliptical or elongated spores, ulti 
mately septate. This mould is one condition, according to - 
Tulasne, of Spheria herbarum. i 
Another condition of the same plant is a very pretty mould 
found mixed with, or parasitic upon, the Cladosporium, and know? 
as Alternaria tenuis. This species is figured in Corda’s “ Pracht- 
flora,” and consists of chains of spores resembling inverted 
clubs. The joints are also transversely divided, as in the 
sporidia. 
A third form of the same species is that named by I 
Berkeley, Macrosporium sarcinula, which is develope 
. The spores are clavate, at length somewhat 
with numerous septa, constricted, and very "E 
and in the number of cells, ‘ ie 
Besides these, there are certain ‘ distinct 0 
shaped cysts, which contain naked spores, capable. 
So that altogether we have five different form: 
which are but stages or conditions of one and the same thing. “Itis 
very probable, that, in addition to these, spermatia may also ber 
after be discovered, or traced to some already known Coniomyce | 
