2 MR. W. PHILLIPS ON THE GENUS VIBRISSEA. 
by me in Shropshire presenting the characteristic phenomenon of projecting their long 
sporidia, and giving a velvety appearance to the hymenium, precisely as in the typical 
species Г. truncorum, there could be no justification for excluding it from the genus. 
True it is that a new genus might be established for the reception of this and other 
sessile species ; but a much better course is to modify the definition of the genus so as to 
comprise both the stipitate and the sessile species, which I propose to do. 
Within the last few years the stipitate species have been increased by the following :— 
Vibrissea margarita, White *, Vibrissea microscopica, Berk. © Broome т, and Vibrissea 
lutea, Peck 1. To these I propose to add Vibrissea pezizoides, Lib., a species with an exces- 
sively short stipes found in the herbarium of the late Madame Libert, a specimen of 
which was kindly given me by my friend Dr. M. C. Cooke; and Vibrissea Fergussoni 
(Berk. & Broome), placed in the genus Patellaria by its distinguished authors, but too 
nearly allied to the last, as it appears to me, from its internal structure, to admit of its 
separation. lam aware that it has not hitherto been observed to project its sporidia 
from the hymenium; but if in all other characters there is a close affinity, I venture to 
think it should be placed here. 
To the sessile division, which up to now consists of Crouan’s Vibrissea Guernisaci 
only, I propose to add Vibrissea turbinata, n. s., found in this country on Ash, and 
attached to the wood by a much narrower base than the species of MM. Crouan; and 
Vibrissea leptospora (Berk. & Broome), placed originally in the genus Peziza. 
All the above species of Vibrissea grow on decayed wood which has been for some time 
immersed in water. Unlike the majority of fungi, nearly the whole of, if not all these plants 
require partial or complete immersion in water for their complete development, for which 
reason they should be regarded as aquatic fungi. I have gathered some hundreds of 
specimens of Vibrissea truncorum in North Wales, nearly all of which flourished under 
water; and in the few cases when they occurred above the surface of the water the 
branches of wood on which they grew were entirely submerged. In like manner 7. 
Guernisaci grows either entirely immersed, or in such a position that each individual is 
thoroughly saturated with moisture. 
The wood on which the various species grow is not at all times recognizable, on account 
of its decayed condition ; hence it has not in all cases been specified by authors. У. trun- 
corum has been found on Pine wood and Alder, V. flavipes on Vine, V. margarita on 
Fir wood, V. Guernisaci on Willow, V. leptospora on Hazel, and V. turbinata on Ash. 
It may be necessary to give a brief description of the structure of these plants, for 
which purpose V. truncorum may be selected as presenting the most perfect and there- 
fore typical form. 
VIBRISSEA TRUNCORUM. 
The Myceliwn.— On the surface of the wood, immediately surrounding the spot from 
which a plant of V. truncorum grows, there is seen, on careful examination under the 
microscope, a layer, more or less dense, of brown, branched, septate, ereeping threads, a 
* Scottish Naturalist, vol. ii. p. 218. T Ann. Nat. Hist. 1876, vol. xvii. p. 142, no. 1618. 
+ XXV. Report N.Y. Mus. p. 97, t. i. £ 19-23. 
