S P E C IF IC CHARACTER.
S t r o m a t o s p h æ r ia stigma ; ambiente effusa, appianata, loevis, demum nigra,
ostiolis subimmersis, planiusculis.—F r i e s .
St . effused in an ambient manner, plane, smooth, at length black, orifices
of the perithecia somewhat sunk, nearly plane.
S t r o m a t o s p h æ r ia stigma, Grev. Fl. Edin. p. 356.
S t r o m a t o s p h æ r i a decorticata, Grev. 1. c. p. 357- „ i,
S p h æ r ia stigma, Hoffm. Veg. Cr. 1. p. 7- t. 2. f. 2— Pers. Syn. Fung. p. 21.
- A l b . et S e hw e ifp . g .-D e Cand. FI. Franç. v. 2. p . 28g .-E ju s d Syn
p. 60.— With. Bot. Arr. ed. 6. v. 4. p. 470.— Ehrh. Cr. No. \ 70.— Schleick.
No. 70— Nees, Syst. t. 41. f. S\g.— Moug. et Nestl. St. Fxsicc. No. 372-—
Fries, Scler. Suec. No. 46.— Hook. FI. Scot. Pt. 2. p. 5.— Schwein. Fung.
Carol. No. 41.
S ph æ r ia s tigm a , /3 d e c o rtic a ta , Pers. Syn. p . 21. , , , r>
S p h æ r i a decorticata, Sow. Engl. Fung. t. 137. excl. syn. ( very bad.)— Be
Cand. 1. c. p. 289.— Syn. P- 60.— Purt. Midi. FI. v. 2. p. 710.— Winch, Bot.
Guide, 2. p. 108. _
S p h æ r ia decorticans, Sow. Fung, sub Sph- Kirbh, t. 371-—Pers. apud Moug.
et Nestl 1. c. No. 873.— Purt. Midi FL v. 3. p. 491.
S p h .e r i a cinerea. Sow. Fung. t. 373. f. 11.
H y p o x y l o n operculatum, Bull. Champ, p. 177- t. 4 6 8 . f. 2. t, i r
L i c h e n - A g a r i c u s obscurus, in arborum corticibus, &c. Mich. Nov. Pt. Gen.
p. 105. No. 7- t. 55. f. 2.
H ab. On the dead branches of various trees, extremely plentiful, at all
seasons.
Plant originating between the inner and outer bark of the dead branches of
trees, and gradually occasioning the latter to fall off; spreading widely
in all directions, often completely encasing the branch, less than a
line in thickness, even, continuous, pale or reddish when young, becoming
ultimately a brownish-black, and a good deal cracked,^ palei
within. Perithecia very numerous, subglohose, the orifices flattish, or
somewhat convex and slightly prominent, generally surrounded by a
small depression of a somewhat paler colour than the rest ot the receptacle.
Thecoe minute, very slender. Sporidia subglobose.
None of onr Sphoerioe occur in greater profusion than this
species. It is of rapid growth, and is often seen to coyer sticks
t tree or four feet long, with a dark, smooth-looking ^ coat.
Though I formerly considered St. stigma distinct from St. decorticans,
I have found reason to agree with F r i e s , who has
united them ; the chief difference between the two, being a
thicker substance, and rather more prominent orifice, in the variety
decorticans.
Fig. 2. a. Plant, natural size, b , A portion removed, c, Another portion,
showing a variety in the appearance o f the orifice, c, Thecoe and Sporidia ;
.—magnified.