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Ill iTgard to the present plant, I suspect T o d e intended
o desciibe it as the variety (3 nigrescens of bis Sphæria cu-
whieh P e r s o o n afterwards made a species in the
t Mycologicoe, p. 65., and in bis
Synopsts Fungormn, p. 53. Their characters, if my supposition
be correct, are however so erroneous, tbat few would be
able to trace the connection. I shall quote P e r s o o n ’s cha-
lacter : Cæspitosa nigra, sphærulis astcmis, nigris, collavm
, suhrugosisr In all the specimens which f have e S
mmed. the spherules have a minute orifice, and a distinct ma-
millose projection They are of a fine rich dull red colour, till
they decay, and then, indeed, they are black. Another considerable
discrepancy IS also to be observed in T o d e ’s figure ■
and in P e r s o o n ’s description, the spherules are said to be
placed upon the receptacle, “ strmna cui impositæ sphærulæ,”
c whereas in our plant, they originate from within the receptacle,
and a portion always continues to remain beneath its
surface. In consequence of the above uncertainty, I have pre
“r s r
When it occurs, it is in great abundance, frequently co-
vering the smaller branches for many feet, at intervals often
not exceeding the eighth of an inch.
Fig. s.