Hifiory of tbe Britifh Stellated Eycoper dons. 45 
fegment in the lower volva. In this procefs there is no actual turn- 
ing infide out, as happens to the other fpecies; and the lower volva 
being undifturbed, the plant remains attached to its fituation, un- 
lefs {fome much greater degree of force be applied to it than is fuffi- 
cient to remove the ftellatum. - They are therefore but rarely found 
loofe, or blown about by the wind; and from this, their being 
found for years together on the fame, or nearly the fame, fituation 
is to beaccounted for. Their heads are alfo of a much firmer tex- 
ture, and do not difcharge the duft or feed with fo much freedom 
as the ftellatum ; and to thefe circumítances their greater degree 
of fcarcity may reafonably be attributed. The root of this plant is 
rarely found adhering; for though the volva does not reverfe itfelf, 
as in the ftellatum, it is evident that the fplitting and opening of 
the rays may break off the root; or if not, the plant foon after 
opening, arrives at its full growth. and perfection, and the root 
confequently decays, and is left in the ground when the plant is 
taken up. That fuch is the mode of vegetation, I can affert, from 
having found a plant very recently opened, in which the head had 
arifen from the lower volva, and the rays were acquiring their 
arched fituation on the tips of the lower rays. This plant was 
perfectly white, and much refembled the figures in Scheffer, t. 183. 
f. 1, 2; but on vifiting the {pot again two or three days after, it had 
acquired the perfect fhape of the fornicatum, as reprefented in 
Blackftone’s figure; the fpongy coat had dried, and was beginning 
to fcale; and the whole plant had acquired a deep fufcous colour. 
That the figure of this plant did not happen from decay is evident; 
and that it was not forced into fuch a fhape by the accidental fall- 
ing in of mould, &c. between the coats of the volva, is certain, be- 
caufe it grew on a flat furface under the fhelter of a bufh; and nei- 
ther grafs, mofs, nor any other fubítance was found in the cavity 
of 
