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a stipes, which varies greatly in thickness ; in a young state, the colour
is whitish, but at length changes to a brownish-black. Substance between
fleshy and corky, when dry very hard, white within, and radiated
towards the circumference. The whole surface except the stipes contains
perithecia. Perithecia roundish, black, the orifices minutely prominent.
Thecoe filiform. Sporidia oval.
it
This is the largest and most robust of all tbe stipitate species
belonging to tbe Sphæroideoe, being often above three
inches in height, and sometimes nearly one in thickness. In
its propensity to vary from the proper figure, which may be said
to be between cylindrical and obovate, it exceeds every plant of
its tribe, and yet is almost invariably well distinguished from
the Sphæria digitata of E h r h a r t , by the obtuse and fertile
summit of the receptacle. F r i e s observes, that a cavity is occasionally
found in tbe heart of this species, and that it is a solitary
instance among tbe Hypoæyla. Till recently, there has
always existed more or less confusion between this species and
Sphæria digitata and Sph. Hypoxylon. F r i e s has disentangled
the conflicting synonymes ; and I hope to illustrate
them ill a short time by faithful representations. I cannot
omit to notice one singular error into which British writers
have generally fallen : they have very properly neglected the
natural-size figures in Boi/rox’s plate of what he calls Sphoe-
ria digitata, but selected as the true plant the figure marked h,
which is only a magnified representation of one of the others.
I t will scarcely he credited, in this advanced period of botanical
science, that our present plant is called Clavaria digitata
in the last edition (the rixth) of W i t h e r i n g ’s Botanical
Arrangement.
Fig. 1. A group q f plants. Fig. 2. A plant q f another form. Fig. 3. A longitudinal
section; natural size. Fig. 4, A portion o f the exterior q f the receptacle.
Fig. 5. Thecoe and sporidia ; magnified.