16 DR. HOOKER'S MISSTON TO INDIA. 
mon one, and the most beautiful in appearance, is that of an excessively 
branched erect bushy mass, six to ten inches high, and as much across, 
snowy white, firm, and inodorous; the innumerable branches covered 
with pendent, icicle-like bodies : I can find no fructification. Grotesque 
normal forms are rare, such, I mean, as we have at home in Lycoperdon, 
Phallus, and Clathrus, or Aseroé in Australia. Few species last a 
month; some few survive four; many are exceedingly local. I have 
not seen one of the hemispherical poisonous groupe, with viscid pileus : 
those having a plicate very delicate cap and remote gills are common. 
As in most tropical and sub-tropical countries, the Hymenomycetes 
here are far the richest tribe in species and individuals, excepting 
possibly the Coniomycetes and Hyphomycetes, which, I presume, are 
neglected, of necessity, by even those travelling naturalists who can 
devote any time to the observation of Fungi. Besides Agaricus, in- 
cluding many of its sub-genera, we have Lentinus, a few Boleti and 
Polypori, Hexagonium and Merulius, Hydnum, Thelephora and Auricularia, 
Clavaria, Tremella, and Eridia ;—Gasteromycetes are much rarer ; I 
have not even met with the ubiquitous genus Nidularia. Ascemycetes 
are far from abundant: I have a few Pezize, Helvelle, and Spheria. 
Hitherto I have found no necrophytes, as Caterpillar Fungi, &c. 
Billets of decayed wood, especially the logs cut for fire-wood, are 
often beautifully phosphorescent ; the piles, some feet high, presenting 
a beautiful appearance in the forest by night, which is distinctly due to 
the presence of a Mycelium, whose area is circumscribed by a dark 
line. I have coaxed it much and long, by placing the logs in various 
places, to humour the Mycelium to perfect its fungus, but in vain. It 
penetrates deep into the decayed substance. 
To conclude, I may mention that the size which some of the Agaric? 
attain is very great, much greater than I have seen elsewhere. The 
pileus of one is fourteen inches in diameter, very fleshy, with a huge 
stipes : several species attain a diameter of eight and ten inches ; whilst 
others have stout stipites as many inches high. One more word about 
Fungi. The moulds do not spare even the best new and still odorous 
Russia leather ;—witness my writing-desk turning 4/ue, though placed 
within two yards of a good fire (but shaded from its direct rays). 
Morocco leather, of course, is even more liable to be affected. 
