Messrs. Berkeley and Broome on British Hypogaous Fungi. 75 



3. Hymenogaster decorus, Tul. ! Ann. d. Sc. Nat. ser. 2. vol. xix. 

 p. 374. Epping Forest, Hartham Park, King's Weston, Chud- 

 leigh, &c. 



This is a much firmer species than H. tener, darker within, 

 with larger spores ; but it is especially distinguished by its elon- 

 gated filiform sporophores, which project far beyond the surface 

 of the hymenium. 



4. H. Thwaitesii, Berk, and Broome. Parvus globosus firmus 

 extus albidus maculis saturatioribus notatus, intus brunneus; 

 sporis minoribus globosis, vesicula interiori ssepe contracta, sca- 

 briusculis papillatis; nucleo unico magno. Portbury, Sept. 6, 

 1845. 



This species is proposed as new with the sanction of Messrs. 

 Tulasne, who examined a slice prepared in fluid by Mr. Thwaites. 

 The spores are far more globose than in any other species, and 

 are either quite obtuse or minutely apiculate. The inner mem- 

 brane of the spores often contracts so as to present a very sin- 

 gular appearance. A few elongated spores are mixed with them, 

 but the normal form is globose ; indeed, except the normal form 

 be taken into consideration, it would be impossible to draw up 

 distinguishing technical characters of any Hymenogaster, as there 

 are always some irregular spores mixed with those which are 

 peculiar to the species. They are larger than in H. tener, but 

 smaller than in H. decorus. 



*i/. tener, Berk. Ann. of Nat. Hist. vol. xiii. p. 349. H. ar- 

 genteus, Tul. ! Fung. Hyp. in Giorn. Bot. Ital. Ann . 1°. 



This is one of the most distinct species, characterized by its 

 small, widely elliptic or subglobose spores. The synonym of 

 Tulasne is given on the authority of its authors, and on exami- 

 nation of authentic specimens. 



5. H. pusillus, Berk, and Broome. Minimus obovatus vel sub- 

 depressus albus basi sterili ampla prseditus, intus albidus ; cel- 

 lulis pro ratione magnis ; sporis pallide rubiginosis brevibus late 

 ellipticis papillatis demum asperulis. On mossy ground in the 

 Wilderness, Rushton, Norths, Oct. 8, 1845, with H. luteus. 



About 2 lines high, obovate or somewhat depressed, pure 

 white, yellowish brown when dry, and then resembling strongly 

 a specimen of Sclerotium complanatum, Tode, nearly smooth ; 

 dirty white within, furnished with a large distinct absorbing base. 

 Cavities of the hymenium large for the size of the fungus, clothed 

 sparingly with the rust-coloured spores. Sporophores clavate, 

 frequently forked or irregular, having two spores on rather long 

 spicules. Spores short, minute, broadly elliptic, at first smooth, 

 at length rather rough, obtusely apiculate. 



This species, which has no particular odour, has at present 

 occurred very sparingly. Its nearest ally is H. tener, but the 



G2 



