129 



Decades of Fungi; hy the Eev. M. J. Berkeley, M.A., F.L.S. 



Decades LI.-LIV. 



(With 



Rio Negro Fungi. 



{Continued from vol. vi. p. 235.) 



The very interesting collection of Fungi described in the following 

 twelve Decades were transmitted by Mr. Spruce, and have just been 

 distributed. In beauty and variety they exceed any previous collec- 

 tion. The following extract from a letter received from Mr. Sijruce 

 contains some interesting details respecting their habits and the locality 

 m which they were found. It is curious that there is not the slightest 



indication of anew genus amongst them, though the collection abounds 

 in new species.* 



*^ The Eio Uaupes is the first locality in which I have met with 

 Fimgi in tolerabk plenty, though the number of individuals is not at 

 all to be compared with what I recollect having seen in England, in 

 Fir-woods and other places, during tlie autumnal months; indeed, of 

 inany of the species I did hot succeed in finding more than one or two 



r 



Specimens, and of those gathered in greater quantity the specimens 

 were found growing mostly widely apart, and were collected at several 

 times. The most interesting species, and the greatest variety, are 

 found in what the Indians call Caa-gua^u, or great forest, where the 

 trees are lofty and the soil good. Some of the Fungi of the Caa-guagu 

 grow on the ground ; more on dead trunks, standing or fallen ; but 

 perhaps the greatest number of species is found on dead leaves and 

 twigs, being principally Agarici and Marcmdi, some of the former 

 being so minute and so deliquescent as to be impossible to preserve. 

 On the Uaupes, as on the Alto Rio Negro, there is a very large pro- 

 portion of low forest, on a soil of a dry, white sand, mostly thinly 

 covering the granite rock, which, although equally a " silva primseva " 

 with the Caa-gua^ti, produces only small trees of peculiar species 

 found nowhere else, and shows here and there bare white places des- 

 titute of all vegetation, from which the Indians of Brazil call it Caa- 



* AH the new species iu the set which, 

 Dr. Montagnc, have met with his approval, 

 in the rollection arc jdcutieal with those of 



VOL, viir. 



i ^^iit to 

 number 



