278 
to a mere vestige, sometimes raised on a short internode which sup- 
ports three of the stamens, and undergoing partial reversion into 
green leaves. [ find that Mr. Hankenson contributed to the first 
volume of the BULLETIN (Vol. i, No. 6, June, 1870) a short note 
upon some of these variations. A. GRAY. 
§ 282. Agaricus with the odor of Chlorine.—The note on 
_ Truffles, on page 276 (last BULLETIN), reminds me—tst. That these 
fungi must be very scarcein this country, for I have been looking 
out for them for the past 20 years without finding them more than 
once or twice:—2znd. A year ago last August I found a most 
remarkable new Agaricus. J/¢ was exhaling a strong odor of Chlorine 
when found, and continued to do so while it was kept fresh. The 
appropriate specific name, ch/orinosmus, has been given to it by Prof. 
Peck, to whom I sent the specimen together with a few notes of its 
peculiarities. 
* Acaricus (Amanita) CHLoRINOSMUS, PecK. A very large 
“species, somewhat firm in texture, and nearly pure white. Pileus 
_ about 6’ in diameter and 1’—1}4' thick, convex above, the margin 
incurved, the under surface flattish and of a very light cream color, 
_ clothed on the upper side around and towards the margin, to the 
_ depth of a half inch or so, with an extremely light and soft deciduous 
efflorescence or powder, with a scarcely discernible yellow tint (like 
lime when but slightly charged with chlorine); towards the centre 
_ this powder becomes thinner and more compact, and at length (in 
the centre) it passes into soft, now friable and then persistent, warts 
or corrugations. Volva friable and caducous (or none?). Stipe 
solid, subcompressed (always ?), 6’ or 7’ high and about 1}’ thick, 
and extending about 4 inches beneath the ground. 
It was found nearly a half mile from any building or public 
road, growing among coarse gravel and cobble stones, near the base 
of a steep (gravelly) wooded ridge with a north-westerly slope, and 
which was burned over during the preceding spring or autumn. 
That the plant was exhaling chlorine there can be no doubt; 
since there is no other substance known having the same, or even 
a remotely similar odor. There was no mistaking this odor, which 
was by no means faint. Several persons besides myself, who were 
- familiar with the smell of chlorine, and who handled the plant when 
fresh, immediately and positively recognized it. Among these per- 
sons are J. H. West, Teacher, (now of Lodi, N. J.), I. A. Zabriskie, 
_ Druggist, and Fred. Ahrens, Hotel Keeper. Undoubtedly the 
chlorine was taken from the soil by the plant in the form of a © 
chloride, most probably the chloride of ammonium, or possibly of — 
sodium. : ; 
For the following, and other reasons, I cannot help. looking | 
upon this as a most important scientific discovery. Here we have 
chlorine, hitherto considered a potent destroyer of all organic sub- — 
stances, actually exhaled by a living organism !—another striking 
proof that organic matter, when under the influence of, and — 
laws of chemistry, and may successfully resist or even creat 
Be 37. oe 
protected by, the principle of life, is not amenable to the ordinary __ 
