116 M. C. Montagne's Sketch of the Class Fungi. 



In all the species of this group, the young fungus is wrapt in 

 a general volva {uterus, Fr.), which is sometimes double. This 

 pouch, which is usually white and membranous, and which contains 

 the receptacle, is separated from it by a more or less thick layer of 

 mucilaginous matter, frequently of a foetid, cadaverous, goaty, sper- 

 matic or musky scent, sometimes quite scentless. The volva bursts 

 towards the summit in order to make way for the receptacle, which 

 then increases rapidly. 



Sometimes this receptacle consists of a little head (capituhm), 

 which is smooth or rugged (e. g. Phallus), smeared with a coat of 

 this jelly with which we have seen the volva was at first distended*, 

 and supported ])y a fleshy stem or peduncle, or rarely woody, as in 

 Batarrea ; generally fistulose, smooth or reticulate. Sometimes the 

 receptacle, which is still stipitate, is divided at the top into expand- 

 ed and bifid rays (e. g. Aseroe), erect and simple {e. g. Calathiscus, 

 Lysurus). Sometimes sessile, as in Clathrus, or pedicellate, as in 

 Fcetidaria, A. St. Hil., it presents a sort of convex, ovoid or turbinate 

 peridium, or rather a sort of net with rounded meshes, smooth or 

 striate, in the interior of which is contained the gelatinous medium 

 which involves the sporidia when the time of their dispersion is 

 arrived. 



The genus Batarrea is anomalous ; its vegetation is phalloid, but 

 its fruit is that of Lycoperdacece ; indeed the naked sporidia are 

 mixed in the pulverulent state with filaments springing from the 

 receptacle. 



All the Fungi of the tribe which we have just examined spring 

 from beneath the soil, or on its surface ; their growth is wonderfully 

 rapid. Batarrea Gaudichaudi\ , found at Peru, near Lima, acquires 

 all its development in a few hours. They are of no use to man J. 



Note. — This is, on the whole, the least satisfactory of the six grand divisions 

 of Fungi, and must doubtless be greatly modified hereafter. The affinities of 

 Nidiilaria and its allies are at present very ill understood, and both Hyme- 

 nomycetes and Discomycetes will be reinforced by far the greater portion of 

 its other components. The great desideratum is a correct knowledge of the 

 morphosis of Myxogastres, and the genus Trichia is especially worthy of 

 study, as its flocci are clearly not mere relics as those of Lycoperdon. The 

 notion that Scleroiium is allied to Sphceria is very ingenious, and is perhaps 

 strengthened by the fact that Sphceria phaocomes and others are Sclerotia 

 in an early stage of growth. — M. J. B. 



♦ M. Legrand (Act. Soc. Linn. Bord. v. June 1832) has shown that in 

 Phallus vulpinus, an excellent species described by him, this jelly, which is 

 inodorous, diminishes as the fungus increases, and that it dies almost imme- 

 diately if it is taken away before the fungus has arrived at maturity. It 

 seems to him consequently intended by nature to furnish the nutritive matter 

 indispensable for the evolution of the Phallus. Some mycologists have sup- 

 posed, without any ground, that it contains the fecundating principle. Its 

 odour is very variable ; it is foetid in many species ; none in Phallus caninus, 

 vulpinus and indusiatus ; it has somewhat of a spermatic scent in P. auran- 

 tiaciis, n. s. from the East Indies (Ann. Sc. Nat. Nov. 1842). 



t See Mont. Ann. Sc. Nat, 2 s^r. torn. ii. p. 76. t. 4. f. 1. 



X Lysurus MoJcusin is considered by the Chinese as an excellent remedy 

 in gangrenous ulcers. It is also eaten ; but it appears to be often poisonous. 



