sphoeronema is a genus established by F r i e s in his excellent
Systema, a work indispensable to every scientific lover of
Mycology. He has described fifteen species ; and the individual
figured in the annexed plate, maybe said to form the type
of the genus. Most of them have elongated perithecia ; hut
the most striking feature is the little ball produced by the sporidia,
as they escape from the terminal pore. While in the
perithecia, they are described by F r i e s as contained in a delicate
mucose sac, which I have not been so fortunate as to observe.
Fig. 1. Plants on a dried Agaric, nat. size. Fig. 2. A group o f perithecia magnified.
Fig. 3. A perithecium with the terminal globule. Fig. 4. A perithecium
before the escape o f the sporidia, vertically divided. Fig. 5. A perithecium
with the globule vertically divided. Fig. 6. A perithecium with
the ghbule exposed to moisture, shewing the manner in which the sporidia are
dispersed. Fig. 7. A globule, with the sporidia dispersing under the effect
o f moisture. Fig. 8. A ghbule, having hst all the sporidia, but with minute
bristly filaments remaining attached to the orifice. Fig. Q. A summit o f a
perithecium previous to maturity, exuding its sporidia On the application o f
moisture.— All except Fig. I. more or less magnified.
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