SPBLERIA aurea.Gold-coloured Sphceria.

Class and Ordeh CRYPT0G.4MIA FUNGI, Linn —Nat. Oed . HYPOXYLA, De Cmd.

Grev. —FUNGI, Juss. &c.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Receptaculum 0. Sphtsrults cornece, libcrts, sessiles aut subimmersts, sparsce velcongeslts, ore interdum ebngato, aliquando radio; intus gelatinosts, sporulisin tubis JUiformibus nidulantibus.

Receptacle 0. Spherules free, corneous, sessile or subimmersed, scatteredor crowded, mouth sometimes elongated, sometimes wanting; interiorfilled with a gelatinous mass, in which are numerous filiform tubes con-taining sporules.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Sph/ERIA aurea; effusa, gregaria, valde congesta, sphcerulis subastomis, ovatis,subacuminatis ; tubis sporuliferisjdiformibus, elongatis.

Sph. gregarious, spreading, very crowded, the spherules nearly mouthless,ovate, somewhat acuminate : sporuliferous tubes, filiform, elongated.

Sphteria aurea, Grev. FI. Edin. ined.

Hab. On some of the larger fungi when in a semiputrid state. The speci-men figured was growing on the pileus of Polyporus squamosus in New-liston woods, and found by Captain Wauch and myself, September.1822.

Spherules minute, occurring in irregular patches sometimes above an inchlong, excessively crowded, in undulating masses; orange or gold colour-ed, ovate, some obtuse, others pointed, between gelatinous and corneous,without a visible orifice, but discharging the sporules in the form of littletendrils. Sporides roundish, contained in long filiform, hyaline tubes ;3-5 in each.

A very striking and handsome little Sphasria, bearing noaffinity to any other species that I am acquainted with. Re-markable for its place of growth, and in its colour, there is nodanger of its being mistaken for any other plant.

VOL. i.

47

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