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upon a cellular or articulate mass of root or spawn, similar to
that which is common to most species of Uredo; and farther,
that they were attached to this spawn hy means of short pedicels,
in the manner of a Uredo: A g a r d h merely mentions
that he saw a multitude of red, brilliant, opake, exactly spherical,
sessile globules, and some that were colourless and transparent.
He neither alludes to, nor denies the existence of a
gelatinous substratum (the spawn of B a u e r ) ; but it is probable
it escaped his notice, as he would otherwise have taken
advantage of so important a part in the formation of his genus
Protococcus.
Baron W r a n g e l observed some additional facts, in his
essay on the organization of Lepraria kermesina, and its conformity
with the Bed Snow *. As I have not access to the
original article, 1 oAve the following details to the excellent history
already alluded to hy Dr N e e s a b E s e n b e c k . The
author, says my learned friend, placed portions of limestone
covered with Lepraria kermesina under water, and exposed
them to the light of the sun: the red crust was soon detached,
and a number of much smaller globules, of a yellow or pale colour,
made their appearance, of which the larger red globules
Seemed to be composed. After a lapse of three days, the globules
became animated like Infusoria: they swam about, and
were frequently pursued and devoured by other Infusoria (Pa-
ramaecium Aureola, Mull. 1.12. f. 1.-14.) They sunk at last,
and formed a mud-like deposit, Avhile the smaller ones seemed
to arrange themselves in lines. Stones which had been collected
some time afterwards, in the same locality, exhibited the
plant like a granulous, velvety green crust, on the side turned
towards the ground, while on the surface exposed to the light
it was red. Water had the same effect on both. After it Avas
evaporated, the globules again assumed more or less the form
of Lepraria kermesina, and re-application of moisture produced
the same results. Mixed with snow, the red globules
* “ Microscopiska och Physiologiska undersokningar riiranda utrecklingen af Lepraria
kennesina och dess likhet med den sa kallade roda snon. TiUagg till Anmirk-
liirigarne riirande Byssus lolithus, L.”
'Ml
separated into larger and smaller ones, and became of a brighter
colour, which was permanent even when the melted snow containing
them was frozen. On the subsequent solution of the
ice, the author observed some to be supported on pedicels. He
also saw some of the large globules, under the form of Infusoria,
swim ahout, and on coming into contact with each other, hurst,
and give exit to smaller ones. The pedicel which Mr B a u e r
perceived in Uredo nivalis, was only seen by him in a similar
case, the water having been formerly frozen. The author
therefore leaves it undecided, whether the presence of the pedicel
indicates another species or not. From a series of observations
instituted from the 14th of May 1822 to the 2d of January
1823, it has been proved that the Lepraria kermesina,
by being detached by water from rocks and stones, might flow
down the surface of snow, and give origin to the phenomenon
of Bed Snow.
Baron W r a n g e l , as well as Professor S p r e n g e l , refer
Byssus lolithus, L. to the Fungi; but A g a r d h and F r i e s
both dissent, and maintain, that Byssus lolithus and Lepraria
kermesina cannot belong to the Fungi, because they grow
on the naked stone, and consequently are not produced by the
previous decomposition of higher vegetable forms. Both naturalists
place them among the Algce ; and A g a r d h remarks, that
having already assigned Byssus lolithus, L. a place among
the Algce, Lepraria kermesina may also he inserted among
those tribes bearing the closest analogy with the Infusoria of
the animal kingdom *.
F r i e s , in his “ Systema Mycologicum,” proposes the genus
Chlorococcum to receive the Uredo nivalis of B a u e r , the
'Tremella cruenta of English Botany, and Tremella botryoides
of S c h r e b e r {Palmella botryoides, L y n g b . ) f .
My valued friend Dr H o o k e r having examined many
authentic specimens produced on different substances, looks upon
the Red Snow to belong to the genus Palmella of L y n g b
y e , thus essentially coinciding with the views of M. F r i e s .