S T R O M A T O S P H Æ R IA e l l i p t i c a .
Elliptical Stromatosphoeria.
pi
C l a s s a n d O r d e r CRYPTOGAMIA FUNGI, im n — NAT , O r d . H Y P O X Y L A ,
De Cand. Grev.
G E N E R IC C H A R A C T E R .
Receptaculum varium, sessile, liberum vel erumpens. Sphoerulæ mrinino latentes
vel ore exserto ; intus massa gelatinosa sporulifera instructoe.
Receptacle various, sessile, free, or b u rs tin g tb ro u g li th e b a rk . Spherules
concealed, or furn ish ed w ith an exserted orifice ; filled w ith a gelatinous
sporuliferous mass.
S P E C I F IC C R A H A C T E H .
S T R O M A T O S P H Æ R IA elliptica; distincta, gregaria, submagna, elliptica, erumpens,
fusco-ferruginea, minuiissimo-pulverulenta, interne nigra, sphoerulis omnino
latentibus.
S t . d istin c t, gregarious, ra th e r large, elliptical, e rum p en t, ru s ty -b row n , th e
surface m in u te ly p u lv e ru len t, b la ck w ith in ; th e spherules q u ite concealed.
S T R O M A T O S P H Æ R IA clliptica, Grcv. Fl. Edin. p. 357-
Hab. On the trunks and branches of decaying Birch trees ( Betula alba J.
Bare. Birch woods in the Highlands. Swanston Wood, near Edinburgh.
Plant distinct, very gregarious, bursting through the bark always in a transverse
direction, of an elliptical general form, the two extremities acute ;
half an inch to near one inch in length. Surface nearly even, convex,
minutely pulverulent. Colour a ferruginoUs-brown, within black. Spherules
concealed within the receptacle, globose, destitute of an orifice.
Sporules globular, contained in filiform diaphanous tubes.
This very distinct and remarkable species I first discovered
on the banks of Loch Lomond, and subsequently near Edinburgh,
but in both localities very sparingly. I t is not described
in any work to which I have access; nevertheless it
may have found a place in the concluding part of the second
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