68 DECADES OF FUNGI. 
much more ample meshes, and the fructifying mass is in the | 
Toulon plant confined to the network, whereas in the pre- | 
sent case it extends more or less down the columns. | 1 
The specimens vary extremely. In the larger the network | 
resembles closely that of Clathrus cancellatus; in the smaller 1 
specimens it is confined to the apex, but specimens occur in | 
which the six ribs merely unite above, and thus form five ob- | 
long meshes, as in Laternea. The most perfect form Mr. 
Drummond considers to be that in which a single pentagonal | : 
mesh is formed at the confluence of the five columns. 4 
Tas. I, f. 6. Clathrus pusillus; nat. size. E! 
An opportunity has lately been afforded, through the kind- | 
ness of Dr. Broomfield, of examining a young specimen of 
Clathrus cancellatus from the Isle of Wight, (Tab. I. f. 7). 
This shows the correctness of Micheli's figure, the substance 
ofthe volva being divided into compartments answering t0 
the meshes, so that in a vertical section a septum answers | 
more or less accurately to each column, as represented by 
Micheli. The fructifying mass is not confined, as in Clathrus | 
crispus, to the angles of the meshes, but extends over thé 
whole of the internal surface of the columns and network | 
being interrupted only here and there by obscure passage’ 
running from the central mass of jelly. Clathrus cancellatus and 
C. crispus, then, are generically distinct, and the sectional 
denomination Clethria must be raised to the rank of a genu 
The difference will be seen at once on comparing the pres 
figure with that given of Clethria crispa in Ann. and Mag: 
Nat. Hist. vol. 9, tab. xv. It is observable that in the eg 
state Clathrus presents an appearance very similar to the : 
pitate Phalloidee. In the case of Clathrus, however, 
pileus only is developed. I find the spores and sporophores 9 
represented by Brongniart in his Introduction to Botany 
p. 546. A late opportunity of examining a very young PA 
lus, related to P. Demonum, from Ohio, has shown me fl 
the reticulate frill in an early stage of growth exactly li 
the pileus, and gradually detaches itself at the base as 
pileus increases. 
