A Clover Fungus. 



43 



in March it was seen that the ground under the dead clover 

 plants was covered with sclerotia of all sizes, protected 

 from desiccation by the sun by the rotting remains of stems 

 and leaves and by the thick growth of weeds around 

 them. The sclerotia vary in size from that of a 

 large rape seed to a large horse bean. Some sclerotia 

 taken from young plants of Trifolhmi incarnahnn were very 

 small indeed. They are very dark grey, almost black in 

 colour, but grey when cut through, and rather like india- 

 rubber in texture when fresh and in moist surroundings. 

 Moisture is necessary to preserve their vitality, for without 

 it they quickly become lumps of black dust. Attempts 



I and 2. Asci with spores in various stages of 

 development. 



3. Ascus with spore escaping, 



to cultivate them during the spring failed, though they were 

 kept^ in damp moss and in an equable temperature. This 

 is probably because the natural season for germination is 

 the late summer . In ordinary conditions the sclerotia put 

 forth reddish-brown apothecia, funnel-shaped with long 

 stems. (Fig. i, 4.) Rehm says this takes place about the 

 middle of August. Within these apothecia are ranged long 

 club-shaped asci (Fig. 2), or spore cases in each of which are 

 eight spores, or, more correctly, ascospores. These are 



