C la ss a n d O r d e r CRYPTOGAMIA FUNGI, Linn N a t . O r d . G A S T ROM YC l, Grevi
—EPIPHYTÆ, LiWc.—FUNGI, De Cand.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Peridium verum 0. Sporidia uni aut muUihculata, pedicellata, pedicello fix a , et
in cæspitulis aggregata, foliis vivis parasiticis. Epidermis foliorum peridio
simillima.
True peridium 0. Sporidia, one or many-celled, pedicellated, fixed by the
pedicel, and growing in minute clusters or tufts on living leaves. The
epidermis bearing a strong resemblance to a peridium.
S PE C IF IC c h a r a c t e r .
P uccinia Buxi; sparsa, rufo-fusca, orbicularis, valde convexa, epidermide rupla
cincta. Sporidia oblonga biloculata lutea, stipite longo, fliformi.
P. scattered, reddish-brown, round, very convex, surrounded by the ruptured
epidermis. Sporidia oblong, 2-celled, yellow, with a long filiform stem.
P uccinia Buxi, De Cand. Fl. Franç. v. 6. p. 60.—Sow. Engl. Fungi, t. 439__
—Merat, Nouv. Fl. des Env. de Paris, v. 1. p. 104.—Moug. et Nest. Plant.
Exs. V. 7. No. 676.
D 1CÆ0MA buxi, Cray’s Nat. Arr. v. 1. p. 543.
H ab. On both sides of the leaves of the common Box, Buxus sempervirens.
Arlary, near Kinross, Mr Arno tt . Boxhill, Mr J. D. Sowerbv.
A very handsome little parasite, of a rich purplish or reddish-brown colour,
bursting through, and always surrounded by a portion of the epidermis ;
not unfrequently the latter is ruptured in a circular manner, leaving the
centre still attached, which gives tlie mature plant a remarkable umbili-
cated appearance, as represented at Fig. 3. magnified. Form'\ery regular,
round and prominent. Sporidia numerous, densely crowded, of an
oblong shape, composed of two brownish-yellow cells, which, according
to D e Candolle, are divided by a true articulation, and easily separate.
The upper cell is roundish, the lower one attenuated, and terminating in
a long filiform white stem.
A very conspicuous plant, from the great contrast between
its rich dark colour and the bright green of the box-leaves on
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