sph^e] 



STtje Crcagurg at 230tanj). 



1080 



almost coextensive with theorder,and con- 

 sisting of at least 1500 species, but still con- 

 taining numerous representatives, after 

 repeated reduction by the separation of 

 distinct genera. Sphceria as now defined 

 consists of those Sphariacei which have 

 carbonaceous perithecia which are not im- 

 mersed in a distinct stroma, but are either 

 quite exposed, partially sunk into their 

 matrix, or covered by the cuticle, and 

 accompanied by a more or less decided 

 growth of threads constituting the myce- 

 lium. A few genera are separated in con- 

 sequence of slight modifications of the 

 perithecia and their contents which it is 

 not necessary to indicate here, Afterevery 

 reduction we have still above 200 species in 

 Great Britain, and there are probably at 

 least 500 good species. The characters de- 

 pend on the mode of growth, on the form 

 clothing and sculpture of the perithecia, 

 on the comparative abundance of myce- 

 lium or subiculum, but above all on the 

 structure of the sporidia, which exhibit a 

 marvellous variety of colour, outline, 

 division, &c, which makes them admirable 

 subjects for the microscope. Though the 

 whole development of each sporidium 

 must be taken into account, together with 

 the variations to which it may be subject, 

 and species must not be proposed on slight 

 or untenable grounds, there are certain 

 limits within which change can take place, 

 and with proper caution the fruit affords 

 the most certain distinctive characters. 

 Though, however, the sporidia afford good 

 specific characters, they are not in general 

 to be depended upon for generic distinc- 

 tions—an observation which applies to 

 ] other Splicer iacei, and to the great mass of 

 lichens. [M. J. B.] 



SPH2ERINE. A genus of Amaryllida- 

 eea, consisting of perennial herbs, with 

 I erect or adscendent stems, scattered 

 leaves, and umbellate terminal flowers. 

 It is closely related to Ahtrdmeria, but the 

 ovary is but little superior, and the cap- 

 sule is indehiscent. They are natives of 

 Peru. [T. M.] 



SPELEROBLASTUS. A cotyledon which 

 rises above-ground, bearing at its end a 

 spheroid tumour. 



SPFLEROBOLUS. A curious genus of 

 Nidulariacei, distinguished by the sporan- 

 gium being solitary, and at length ejected 

 by the eversion of the lining-membrane 

 of the common peridium, which splits in 

 a stellate manner, and remains attached 

 by the points of the rays like a little 

 bladder. S. stellatus is the most common 

 species, and is found occasionally on rot- 

 ten sticks in woods, though in such situa- 

 tions seldom abundantly. On the contrary, 

 it occurs in the greatest profusion on 

 heaps of sawdust, or in hothouses. The 

 sporangia are thrown like a shell out of a 

 mortar to a considerable distance con- 

 sidering the size of the plant, which 

 scarcely exceeds that of a hemp-seed, and 

 adhere closely to whatever suhstance they 

 may chance to meet with in their course. 



A year or two since this little plant excited 

 considerable alarm in a large establish- 

 ment in Scotland, especially from its pre- 

 valence in an orchid-house. The very 

 walls of the houses, the leaves of the or- 

 chids, and, in short, every substance in 

 the conservatories were studded with 

 little brown pellets, which adhered with 

 great tenacity. The gardener, ignor-ant of 

 the cause, fancied that it must be some 

 new disease, which might possibly prove 

 as fatal as the vine and potato murrain. 

 He was, however, requested to send some 

 of the Sphagnum which surrounded the 

 orchid-roots, which was suspected to be the 

 seat of the mischief ; and when a portion 

 of this was placed under a bell-glass the in- 

 side was soon in the same condition as 

 the orchid-leaf, and the origin of the sup- 

 posed mischief was clear, to the great 

 i delight of the gardener. All lovers of 

 ! curious plants should look out for this 

 singular fungus, which will amply repay a 

 close observation. [M. J. B,] 



SPH^ROCARPUS! A genus of Liver- 

 worts allied to Riccia, and distinguished 

 by the superficial fruit being collected in 

 ; clusters on the filmy frond, surrounded by 

 1 a sessile or pedicellate undivided pitcher- 

 shaped or ovate proper involucre. The 

 spores have their surface divided into 

 little area?, each of which has a minute 

 wart in the. centre. The cells of the walls 

 of the capsule are filled with starch-grains. 

 S. terrestris is found on the ground in 

 clover-fields or fallows, but appears to be 

 more common in the eastern counties, than 

 in the rest of England. [M. J. B.] 



I SPH^ROCARTA. A genus of sandal- 

 worts, distinguished by having the calyx 



I persistent and five-cleft, the tube club- 

 shaped; ten glands in the throat of the 

 calyx, five of which (alternate with its 

 divisions) are small and petaloid ; and five 



I stamens opposite the divisions of the ca- 



I lyx. The species are Indian trees, with 

 alternate oblong leaves, and clusters of 

 small green' flowers. 8. edulis, indigenous 

 to Nepal, bears a fruit which is used by the 

 natives. The name is derived from Greek 

 words signifying ' sphere' and 'nut,' in al- 

 lusion to the shape of the fruit. . [G. D.] 



SPHiEROCEPHALUS. Having flowers 

 growing in close spherical heads. 



SPHiEROCIONIUM. Eymenopliyllum. 



SPH^EROCOCCOIDE^E. A natural order 

 of rose-spored Alga: belonging to the series 

 with spores contained in necklace-like 

 strings, the nucleus lodged in an external 

 conceptacle, which is hollow, and has a 

 placenta at the base ; all the cells of the 

 fertile threads being gradually changed 

 into spores, and at length separating. 

 The substance of thefrond is cartilaginous 

 or membranaceous. It contains many of 

 our most beautiful Algm belonging to the 

 genera Delesseria and Nitopliyllum, and 

 has representatives in most parts of the 

 habitable world. Delesseria Leprieurii oc- 

 curs in the Hudson River at Westpoint, 



