m
LiW
L O P H IU M MYTIHNÜM.
Shell-like Lophium.
C l a s s a n d O r d e r CRYPTOGAMIA FUNGI, L in n— N a t . O r d . H Y P O X Y L A ,
De Cand. Grev.
G EN E R IC C HARAC T ER .
Perithecia verticalia compressa, clausa, rima hngitudinali dehiscentia. Nucleus
ex ascis erectis, sporidia exigua includentibus, mox in pulverem fatiscens eva-
cuatus.
Perithecia vertical, compressed, closed, opening at length by a longitudinal
cle ft; containing a nucleus of erect tubes, inclosing minute sporidia,
at length becoming pulverulent and escaping.
S P E C IF IC c h a r a c t e r .
L o p h i u m mytilinum ; perithepio hrevi-pedicellato, sursum valde dilataio, trans-
versim striato, atronitente.
JL. Perithecium shortly pedicellate, much dilated upwards, transversely
striated, black, shining.
L o p h i u m m y t i l i n u m , Fries, in Vet. Ac. Handl. 1818, p . 116.—Scler. Suec.
Exsicc. No. 60.—Syst. Mycol. v. 2. p. 534.
H v s t e r i u m m y t i l i n u m , Pers. Syn. Fung. p. 97.—Alb. et Schmein. p. 54.—
Nees, Syst. t . Sg. f. 301.—Schmein. Fung. Carol. No. 236.
H v s t e r i u m ostraceum, De Cand. Fl. Franç. ed. 3. v. 2. p. 306.—Ejusd. Syn.
p. 64.
H v p o x v l o n ostraceum. Bull. Champ, p. 170. t. 444. f. 4.
Hab. On the bark, or denudated wood, chiefly of Fir-trees, rare. Appin,
Captain C a r m i c h a e l .
Perithecia sometimes placed on a very th in blackish crust, sometimes quite
destitute of it, very small, one-third, or scarcely h a lf a line in breadth,
and about the same in height, very shortly stipitate, the stipes dilating
immediately into the body of the perithecium, which is very compressed,
vertical, sharp at the edge like an axe, of a shining black, and marked on
each side w ith transverse lines. The whole most remarkably resembling
a black bivalve shell in miniature. The substance is thin and b rittle ;
interior mass, or nucleus of fructification, of a whitish colour, and composed
of erect filiform thecæ, mixed with filaments (paraphyses), at
length becoming pulverulent, and evacuating the perithecium. Sporidia
very minute, roundish.
For tliis and the following species of a highly curious genus,
I am indebted to my excellent friend Captain C a r m i c h a e l ,
to whom belongs tbe merit of introducing them to tbe British