TITLASNE, SELECTA FUNGORUM CAEPOLOaiA. 367 



nation of spores in P. crystallinus takes place, or at least commences, 

 by enlargement of the outer membrane.* Judging also by the 

 figiu-es only, it would seem that Bail supposes the same to be the 

 case ill the germination of the spores of Sphceria typhina Pers.,t 

 but we cannot assert positively that such is his opinion. Spliceria 

 thelebola is alluded to by the authors as emitting terminal and 

 usually oblique germs. We have not ourselves seen the germination 

 in this species, but it may be observed that the spores are furnished 

 at each extremity with an extremely delicate ciliary appendage, 

 which is not easily visible without careful illimiination. These ap- 

 pendages might easily be taken for germ-filaments, but they are 

 exactly terminal, not oblique, and would seem to be of the same na- 

 ture as the appendages to the spores of Sphceria taleola Er., which 

 are ranked by the authors with other setiform processes, such as 

 those which occur in Pestalozzia, Dilophosphora, &c. 



One of the subjects discussed at some length in this work is the 

 nature of those numerous fungi which, although in reality belonging 

 to different genera, and even families, have got classified together 

 under the general name of Sclerotium. "We have only space to no- 

 tice one or two of special interest ; those mycologists whose atten- 

 tion is directed towards solving the difficulties which still exist upon 

 many points in the economy of those productions, will find a mine of 

 information in the MM. Tulasne's pages. The general nature of Sclero- 

 tia is so well described by Mr. Berkeley in his Outlines of British 

 Mycology, that we quote his words here. At p. 57 he says, " Not 

 only do many fungi remain long in the state of spawn without form- 

 ing fruit, but they give rise occasionally to productions quite at 

 variance with the characters of the perfect plant ;" and after noticing 

 instances where the spawn assumes a root-like form, he adds, " Scle- 

 rotium, on the contrary, is formed by the concentration of threads 

 into solid wart-like bodies or nuggets, entirely devoid of fruit, but 

 which on occasion give rise to various kinds of fungi, as Agarics, 

 Pistillarise, Pezizse, &c. . . ." 



One question of difficulty connected with Sclerotia, and upon 

 which the MM. Tulasne are at issue with other authors, is as to the pro- 

 duction of different kinds of fungi from the same Sclerotium, or of the 

 same fungi from different Sclerotia. Agaricus tuber osus is an in- 

 stance of this. — Pries has stated in the Syst. Mycologicum % that 

 this Agaric is produced from Sclerotium cornutum, 8. Fungoruvi, S. 

 muscorum, and others indiscriminately, upon which the MM. Tulasne 

 remark (p. 108, note), " Verbis his, nota niuic vera Sclerotiorum 

 natura, non minus offendimur, quam si quis, nobis adstantibus, uvas 

 de spinis aut de tribulis ficus collegisse contenderet," and they ex- 



* It would seem that the MM. Tulasne have themselves noticed something of 

 this kind, for they say at p. 94, " Semina plurima sub germinationem, solitam mo- 

 lem non mutant ; e minimis vero pleraquc tunc plus minus augeutiir." 



t Sec Bail m Nova Acta, Vol. xxLx. % Syst. Myc, Vol. i. p. 133. 



