SCLEROTIUM durdm.
H a rd Black Sclerotium.
)H
.K.CSrexrLlle Sstr^ innes Delfü-l^
C u s s AND O r d e r CRYPTOGAMIA, FUNGI, Linn.—N a t. O r d . G A S T RO M YC l ?
Link, Grev Part of FUNGI, Juss. De Cand. Hook.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Massa subglobosa out difformis, intùs vesiculosa, carnosa vel cornea, externe in
nonnullis demum corrugata ; sporults incognìtae.
A somewhat globular or shapeless mass, vesiculose and fleshy or horny with-
. in, the surface, in some species, becoming wrinkled ; sporules have not
been observed.
S PEC IF IC CHARACTER.
ScLEROTiUM d u rum ; elongatum vel ovatum, corneum, demum substriatum, inlus
candidum.
S. oval or elongated, hard and tenacious, the surface in old specimens somewhat
striated or rugose ; white within.
ScLEROTiuM durum, Pers. Syn. Fung. p. 19,1.— Alh. et Schw. Conspect. Fung.
p. 74.—Decand. FI. Franp. v. ii. p. 277. ; Ejusd. Syn. p. 58. ; et Mém. du
Mus. V. ii. p. 415. t. 14. f. S.— Hook. FI. Scot. Pt. 2. p. 10 .— Grev. FI.
Edin. ined.
SPH.ERIA solida. Sow. Eng. Fung. t. 314.—Purt, Midi. F I v. 2. p . 713. et
V. 3. p. 49s .—Behl. FI. Cantab, ed. 3. p. 573.
A stoma solidum, Gray's Nat. Arr. v. 2. p. 524.
H a e— On the dead stems of the larger herbaceous plants, particularly potato
stalks, and the lahger Umbelliferi^ ; in autumn, winter, and spring,
very common.
Form generally oblong, and somewhat depressed, but, from many individuals
becoming confluent, it frequently assumes a linear character, for
one or two inches ; within, the structure is extremely simple, presenting
nothing more than an uniform white and hard substance, altogether destitute
of veins, or any trace of sporules ; unless, indeed, it be towards
the surface, where, when a very thin slice is placed under the power ot
the microscope, a vesiculose substance is observable ; b u t whether this
structure is essential to the external coat, or connected with the production
of sporules, I have not been able to determine. The exterior of the
plant becomes substriated, or even subrugose, after arriving at maturity,
and being deprived of the covering of the epidermis, under which it is
produced.