74 Messrs. Berkeley and Broome on British Hypogaous Fungi. 



Hymenogaster olivaceus, Vitt. /. c, var. modestus, Berk, and 

 Broome. 



An Hymenogaster occurred at Hartham Park in the autumn 

 of 1845, nearly intermediate between H. citrinus and H. olivaceus, 

 differing from the former in being of a pale watery brown within 

 and of a softer texture, with spores exactly intermediate between 

 those of the two species. The scent was something like that of 

 H. citrinus, but not so strong. It was not at all yellow exter- 

 nally, but first white, and then of a watery brown. It grew in 

 a very dry fir-plantation, therefore its watery texture could not 

 arise from situation, especially since H. citrinus occurs in much 

 moister places without any similar appearance. We consider it 

 best for the present to record it as a variety of H. olivaceus, dif- 

 fering in scent and in the form of the spores. 



1. H. vulgaris, Tul. MSS. " Rotundatus, irregularis ex albido 

 sordidus, molliusculus ; gleba primum albida dein saturate fusces- 

 cente ; lacunis irregularibus majusculis, basi sterili minuta ; hy- 

 menio piano ; sporis oblongis vel lanceolato-oblongis acutis, basi 

 attenuatis maturis atro-brunneis subopacis, superficie insequali- 

 bus." Splanchnomyces tener, Corda, Fasc. 6. ined. tab. 8. fig. 84. 

 Hym. griseus, Tul. ! Ann. d. Sc. Nat. ser. 2. vol. xix. p. 374. 

 Apethorpe, Norths, July 15, 1845 ; Leigh Wood and Stapleton 

 Grove near Bristol, &c. 



The British specimens accord exactly in form with those sent 

 by Messrs. Tulasne, and have the spores merely apiculate and by 

 no means acuminate. In general the internal substance changes 

 from dirty white to pale reddish brown, and then almost to 

 black. Sometimes however there is at first a slight tinge of pale 

 tan. The spores are variable in form, but are never acuminate. 

 This species was inadvertently mixed with specimens of H. tener, 

 and in consequence communicated with the true H. tener, a very 

 distinct species, to Messrs. Tulasne and Corda, and possibly may 

 be substituted for it in some copies of the fourth fasciculus of 

 British Fungi. 



2. H. pallidus, Berk, and Broome. Parvus rotundato-depressus 

 subglaber albus, demum sordide alutaceus molliusculus, intus ex 

 albo pallide navus dein dilute fuscus ; basi absorbente obsoleta ; 

 peridio tenuissimo ; cellulis minutis semivacuis ; sporis lanceolatis 

 acutis breviter pedicellatis asperulis, guttulis subtribus minutis ; 

 odore debili. Cotterstock, Norths, in a dry fir-plantation, Oct. 

 1845. 



This species, which scarcely exceeds in size a horsebean, is 

 nearly allied to the last, but differs in its more acute spores as 

 well as in colour. A single specimen only of H. vulgaris has oc- 

 curred in the immediate neighbourhood, H. luteus being the most 

 abundant species. 



