stances, where they remain attached for 

 some time. See SAPitoLEG^iiE. [M. J. B.J 



SPORIDESMIUM. An obscure genus of 

 naked-spored Fanrji {Coniomycetes), con- 

 sisting of a multitude of species forming 

 conspicuous black soot-like patches on 

 rails, decayed wood, &c. Many of them 

 are probably merely conditions of Fungi 

 and lichens. There is scarcely any myce- 

 lium, and the whole plant consists of no- 

 thing more than cellular spores of various 

 shapes. The genus is worthy of notice 

 here only as explaining the origin of the 

 above-mentioned patches, which must at- 

 tract every eye the least attentive, and 

 whose nature it may be desirable to ascer- 

 tain. [M. J. B.] 



SPORIDIA. A name given to the spores 

 of Fungi and lichens when they are con- 

 tained in asci. Sporidia like spores may 

 consist of one or more cells, and these 

 may be covered with adistinctly organised 

 cuticle as in many truffles. They have 

 frequently a thick gelatinous coat, which is 

 usually absorbed as the contents of the 

 cells become fully organised. They ger- 

 minate by the protrusion of the inner 

 membrane, the outer being ruptured or 

 perforated, or in some cases by the elon- 

 gation of both. In compound sporidia a 

 distinct germinating thread is often pro- 

 duced by each cell. Sporidia often contain 

 one or more oil-globules, and occasionally 

 distinct eytoblasts, which are sometimes 

 confounded with the oil-globules. Like 

 other organs they are subject to disease, 

 and may be either wholly effete, or so dis- 

 torted and altered in chemical composition 

 as to lie incapable of germination. It is a 

 mistake to suppose that they are constant 

 in size and form. Great differences of 

 dimensions and outline may exist in the 

 same ascus. Microscopical measurements 

 are therefore valuable only within certain 

 limits, and the same may be said of form. 

 Sporidia have sometimes a very different 

 outline when seen from the back or side ; 

 and in some cases, like the spores of so 

 many agarics, they are hollowed out on one 

 side like the seed of a Veronica or a frag- 

 ment of a bombshell. In many cases the 

 ascus in which they were generated is 

 absorbed, so that they appear naked ; and 

 it is probable that occasionally they 

 undergo further development when free, 

 as is certainly the case with some spores 

 or protospores of Fungi. [M. J. B.] 



SPORIDIIFEROUS. Bearing sporidia. 



SPORIDIOLA. The spores or sporules 

 of thallogens and acrogens. 



SPOROBOLUS. A gcmis of grasses be- 

 ] longing to the tribe AgroMdece, the species 

 I of which are now placed in Vil/a, &c. by 

 Steudel. [D. M.] 



; SPOROCARP. The involucre of pepper- 

 | worts: the spore-cases of lycopods; any 

 spore case. 



SPOROCLADIUM. A branch on which 



the reproductive bodies of some algals 

 are found. 



SPOROCYST. The spore-case of algals. 



SPORODERM. The skin of a spore. 



SPOROPHORE. A name given to the 

 fertile cells in the naked-spored Fungi, and 

 synonymous with the basidia of French 

 authors. In such Fungi as agarics the 

 sporophores are clavate or swollen above, 

 and bear generally four little points called 

 spicules, or by the French sterigmata.on 

 which the spores are seated. In Tremella 

 the sporophores are globular or quadri- 

 partite, the spicules being drawn out into 

 long threads. In Coniomycetes they are often 

 very short and obtuse, or thread-shaped, 

 and occasionally branched. [M. J. B.J 



SPOROPHYLLA. A name given to the 

 little leatlets which, as in Plocamium, bear 

 the tetraspores. [M. J. B.J 



SPORULE. See Spore. 



SPRAGUEA. A Californian herb form- 

 ing a genus of Portulacacece allied to 

 Claytonia, but differing in the petals being 

 reduced to four, the stamens to three, and 

 the styles and valves of the capsule to 

 two, and by the remarkable large orbicular 

 cordate thin and transparent sepals. The 

 leaves are all radical, and somewhat suc- 

 culent; the flowers are densely imbricate 

 in spikes, several of which form a dense 

 umbel on a leafless scape, the large sepals 

 giving it an elegant'and singular aspect. 



SPREADING. Having a gradually out- 

 ward direction, as petals from the ovary. 



SPREKELIA. The genus of the Ja- 

 cobean Lily, S. formosissima, and one or 

 two other species. It is remarkable for 

 its declinate perianth, with scarcely any 

 tube, and a limb of which the upper seg- 

 ments are reflexed, and the lower sloped 

 downwards and convolute at the base. 

 The filaments are inserted equally with a 

 connecting membrane, and are fasciculate 

 declinate and recurved like the style; the 

 leaves are linear-Jorate, produced after the 

 flowers, and the scape somewhat two- , 

 edged hollow and one-flowered. [T. M.J 



SPRENGELIA. A small genus of Epa- j 

 cridacece, natives of South and Eastern ! 

 Australia and Tasmania, distinguished by j 

 having a five-parted slightly-coloured ca- 

 lyx, surrounded by numerous bracts ; a 

 five-parted beardless corolla; stamens 

 free, the anthers occasionally united; 

 and the seed-vessel five-celled. They are 

 upright branching shrubs; the leaves 

 sharp-pointed cucullate and half-sheath- 

 ing at the base ; and the flowers terminal, 

 on short lateral branchlets. [R. H.J 



SPRING-BEAUTY. An American name 

 for the Claytonias. 



SPRINGERS. A local name applied to 

 the variety of Agaricus arvensis figured 

 by Bulliard, and distinguished by its elon- 

 gated pileus, tall stem, and thinner ring. 



