SPHÆ R IA AUREA.
Gold-coloured Sphæria.
n
f
W 1
A 7
C u s s and Oddeu c r y p t o g a m i a FUNGI, Linn.—N a t. Ord. H Y P O X Y L A , De Cand.
Grev,—FUNGI. Juss. Sic.
G E N E R IC C H A R A C T E R .
Receptaculum 0. Sphoeruloe corneæ, Uheroe, sessiles aut suhimmersoe, sparsæ vel
congestoe, ore interdum elongato, aliquando nullo; intùs gelatinosoe, sporulis
in tubis Jiliformibus nidulantibus.
Receptacle 0. Spherules free, corneous, sessile or subimmersed, scattered
or crowded, m o u th sometimes elongated, sometimes w an tin g ; in te rio r
filled with a gelatinous mass, in which are numerous filiform tu b e s conta
in in g sporules.
S P E C I F IC c h a r a c t e r .
Sphæria a u re a ; effusa, gregaria, valde congesta, sphærulis subastomis, ovatis,
subacuminatis ; tubis sporuliferis Jiliformibus, ehngatis.
Sph. gregarious, spreading, very crowded, the spherules nearly mouthless,
ovate, somewhat acuminate : sporuliferous tubes, filiform, elongated.
Sphæria aurea, Grev. Fl. Edin. ined.
H ab. On some of the larger fungi when in a semiputrid state. The specimen
figured was growing on the pileus of Polyporus squamosus in Newliston
woods, and found by Captain W auch and myself, September.
1822.
Spherules minute, occurring in irreg u lar patches sometimes above an inch
long, excessively crowded, in u n d u la tin g masses ; orange or g o ld coloured,
ovate, some obtuse, others pointed, b e tw een gelatinous and corneous,
w ith o u t a visible orifice, b u t d ischa rging th e sporules in th e form o f little
tendrils. Sporules roundish, contained in long filiform, hyaline tubes ;
S - 5 in each.
A very striking and handsome little Sphæria, bearing no
affinity to any other species that I am acquainted with. Remarkable
for its place of growth, and in its-colour, there is no
danger of its being mistaken for any other plant.
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