V.
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sufficient to separate plants most closely allied in every other
respect. Besides, the orifices of Ms Sphoerioe, vary from being i >
much elongated, to a minute opening, not rising above the surface
; and in several of his Astomæ, though the mouthless cha-
ractcr is constant enough to place them uuder a general division,
yet, in some instances, I have ascertained distinct orifices
to exist ; especially in his Astoma hederoe, A . lauri, A . hi- ^
frons, and A . concavum ; the two latter of which do not seem [
to belong either to Sphæria or to Phacidium of K u n z e and {,
and S c h m i d t , but approach most nearly to Næmaspora.
The genus Sphæria, according to the view I have taken of 4 ,
the whole tribe, since I commenced this work, may advantageously
include those Astomæ, which in other respects agree
with my generic character. Some will come uuder my genus
Cryptosphæria; and there arc a few that require more minute
examination before a place can he assigned to them.
The present species, which is hy no means devoid of beauty,
I was fortunate in finding, near twelve months ago, in Mr
F a l c o n e r ’s grounds at Carlowrie. I have also recently received
it from hîr M a c i n t o s h , late Gardener to the Earl of
B r e a o a l b a n e , a most indefatigable searcher of plants, and
to whom we are indebted for the first specimens of Plypnum
rugulosum discovered in Scotland.
I cannot, perhaps, do better than mention in this place,
that another industrious botanist, Mr B a x t e r , the Curator
of the Botanic Garden at Oxford, intends shortly to illustrate
the Cryptogamia of Oxfordshire, by publishing fasciculi of P
dried specimens of the plants of that difficult Class. On the
utility of such a publication, it is needless to enlarge : it has
indeed been proved hy the excellent one on the Mosses, by
Mr H o b s o n of Manchester. Mr B a x t e r ’s will include
every order of the Class Cryptogamia, rejecting only those species
of the order F u n g i which are too fleshy or gelatinous to
preserve by pressure.
Fig. 1. lerrucusu, on Polyporus abietinus. Figs. 2. The same. Fig. 3.
I ’wo spherules removed. Fig. 4. A spherule divided. Fig. 5. Sporuliferous
cells, wUh spondes.—All, except the firs t, more or less magnified.
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