Hiftory of tbe Brüifb Stellated Lycoperdons. 41 
Lycoperdon hereafter to be defcribed, which has really a feffile 
head. 
9. That Mr. Bryant's method of accounting for the double volva, 
and arched appearance of the rays of fornicatum of Hudfon (to fay 
nothing of the improbability, or nearly impoflibility, of a fixed and 
permanent effect, proceeding from vague and accidental caufes), is 
merely conjecture, and not founded on a&ual obfervation or folid 
argument, every botanift who has been in the habit of obferving 
plants of the order of Fungi muft readily allow ; and if they recur 
to the pamphlet itfelf, they will fee that the obfervations and ar- 
guments are not miftated. If therefore it fhall be made to appear, 
that, fo far from being caufed by age or decay, the appearance of 
this plant, as to the principal facts, is the fame throughout all its 
ftages; and that it is fubjeét to as little variation as almoft any 
other plant, and to much lefs than by far the greater number of 
this order of vegetables—if it fhall be demonftrated, that the pe- 
culiar appearances cannot originate from the caufes affigned, no 
-doubt will remain as to the propriety of Hudfon’s arrangement; and 
his fpecies of Lyc. fornicatum will be fully re-eftablifhed in the 
rank from which it has been endeavoured to be degraded. : 
Io. Mr. Bryant afks, p. 39. ‘ Jf the quadrifidum be a diftinét fpe- 
* cies, how comes it to pafs that it is fo very * fcarce; when the head of 
€ a fingle plant (if the dufl be allowed to be the feed) is Juficient to pro- 
€ duce thoufands; and yet a perfon who fearches on purpofe, where thefe 
* How truly philofophical and conclufive is this argument againft the fpecies, drawn 
from the fcarcity ! and yet this, curious asit is, is exceeded by another. We are told, 
p- 38. that Mr. B. found a quadrifid plant on the top of a bank, on the flope of which fe- 
veral of the ftellatum of Linn. or Ray’s plant grew; therefore there was no doubt but they 
muf have originated from the fame feed. Xf this argument be allowed, one may undertake 
to prove, that the Onopordum Acanthium, and Carduus marianus, certainly proceeded 
from the fame feed, becaufe they have frequently been found on the fame bank. 
— Vor. II. G © plants 
B - \ 
