154 Mr. Bowman on a new Plant of the Gastromycous Order, ^-c. 



from the sporangium ; while Jig. f, g, h, and i, exhibit dif- 

 ferent individuals in their expanded state. The filaments are 

 more or less erected or horizontal ; but some seem always to 

 retain their original downward direction, like the lower branches 

 of the larch or some of the palm tribe. 



That portion of the stipes which had been surrounded by 

 the sporangium is very slender, and tapers towards the pileus ; 

 while its lower half is suddenly swelled out to a very dispro- 

 portionate thickness, and dilated into a thin membranous and 

 glutinous base, by which it is attached to the wood whereon it 

 grows. This kind of base, common to many of these minute 

 parasites, being destitute of fibres or vascular structure, seems 

 to indicate that they require no further nourishment after the 

 sporules are once expanded into the gelatinous mass which 

 is their earliest visible form, or that they derive any further 

 supply from the disengaged gases which float in the dank atmo- 

 sphere in which they live. I first found the Enerthenema in 

 October, and again in December last, on decaying branches of 

 oak deprived of their bark, and lying on the ground in the 

 damp and shady parts of Erddig wood, near Wrexham, Den- 

 bighshire ; a spot not less attractive to the botanist than to the 

 lover of picturesque woodland scenery, and always accessible 

 to the public through the liberality of its worthy proprietor, 

 S. Yorke, Esq. 



XIV. On 



