On the Fructification of the genera Clathrus and Phallus. 327 



Fig. 9. Sterope armatus. 

 Fig. 10. Sterope interrupliis. 

 Fig. 11. Sferojye ovalis. 

 Fig. 12. Carrillus oblongus. 



Fig. 13. Second thoracic leg of Carrillus oblongus. 

 ' Fig. 14. First abdominal extremity of Carrillus. 

 Fiff. 16. Second abdominal eictremity. 



XXXVII. — On the Fructification of the genera Clathrus and 

 Phallus. By M. Maurice Lespiault*. 



The Rev. M. J. Berkeley, in a notice published in 1839t, 

 described the fructification of Phallus caninusj Huds. [Cyno- 

 phallus caninuSj Fries) ; he demonstrated by delicate observations, 

 that, in this genus, until then wrongly separated from the Hyme- 

 nomycetes, or rather the Basidiosporce of Leveilje, the spores were 

 supported on basidia, as in the Boleti, the Ayarici, and other 

 mushrooms of the same class. Mr. Berkeley thence presumed 

 that an analogous organization must be found in all the Phal- 

 loidece, but no further recent observations had as yet supported 

 this hypothesis. 



M. Corda, whose analyses have thrown so much light on the 

 intimate structure of Fungi, denies the existence of the basidia in 

 the genus Phallus : " Sporce in strata congestce, muco primumfirmo 

 dein diffluente immerses, simplices, basidia nulla t-'' (Anleitung, 



The investigations of botaiiists on this subject have not gone 

 further ; the fructification of the genus Clathrus is still more im- 

 perfectly known. Nor can we be surprised, when the analysis of 

 these mushrooms presents such great difficulties, 



It is, in fact, not sufficient to subject to examination indivi- 

 duals little developed or inclosed in their volva ; the substance 

 which contains the fructiferous organs must be firm and of an 

 almost fleshy consistence. As soon asit has begun to soften^ the 

 spores are displaced, and the basidia disappear. It is moreover 

 very difficult, even with the aid of a perfectly fine-pointed lancet, 

 to remove very thin sections of a mucilage which yields to the 

 slightest pressure : we are therefore obliged, in order to obtain 



* Translated from the Annates des Sciences Naturelles fur July. — The 

 position which Clathrus cancellatus should occupy in the clq,ss of ihe Ba- 

 sidiosporep, and the mode of insertion of the spores of this curious plant, 

 have been already established by Mr. Leveille, but, notwithstanding the 

 priority and accuracy of the observations of M. Leveille, we think the me- 

 moir of M. Lespiault , who has extended his researches to other plants of 

 the group of the PhalloidccB, will be read with interest. — {F^d. Ann. des Sci, 

 Nat.) 



f Annals of Natural History, vol. iv. p. 155. 



X 'I'here is no question here of the Phallus caninns, which h^^ becoqie the 

 type of a new genus. 



