MR. BENNETT ON THE KOBO-TREE. 149 



tapering somewhat from above downwards. In one specimen the 

 base of the stalk at its point of junction with the Sclerotium was 

 thickly covered with hairs. 



The Peziza described has not been hitherto observed, but there 

 is another well-known species which also grows from a Sclerotioid 

 base to which it bears a considerable resemblance, viz. Peziza 

 tuberosa, Bull. The cup of the latter generally grows to a larger 

 size, and its stalk is usually much longer, but the two plants are 

 so alike in shape and colour, that there might be some difficulty 

 in distinguishing small detached specimens of Peziza tuberosa from 

 large specimens of the new Peziza \ — I say detached specimens, 

 because the habits of growth of the two Fungi are so dissimilar 

 that they could never be confounded in their natural habitats. 

 Peziza tuberosa grows on the ground, its cup just appearing above 

 the surface, and its stalk with the tuberous extremity being buried 

 sometimes to the depth of upwards of 2 inches in the earth. The 

 other, having its nidus in the interior of rushes on the edge of a 

 pool, grew almost, I may say quite, in the water. Another important 

 mark of distinction is to be found in the spores, those of Peziza 

 tuberosa being elliptical, whilst those of the rush-Peziza are 

 narrow, and more or less arcuate. In conclusion I may mention 

 that there is another Sclerotium {Sclerotium sulcatum, Desm.), 

 which grows in the interior of the stems of Car ices, just as Scle- 

 rotium roseum does in the interior of rushes. It has lately 

 been observed by M. Durieu de Maisonneuve, that Sclerotium 

 sulcatum under favourable circumstances becomes (like Sclerotium 

 roseum) developed into a Peziza. I have not seen this latter Pe- 

 ziza, and am indebted to M . Tulasne for a notice of the fact. 



My friend Mr. Berkeley, to whom I sent specimens, has marked 

 my plant in his herbarium " Peziza Curreyana" and has requested 

 me to adopt that name. 



Description of the Kobo-tree, a new genus of Leguminosce, col- 

 lected by Dr. W. F. Daniell, E.L.S., in Sierra Leone. By 

 John Joseph Bennett, Esq., F.K.S., Sec. L.S. 



[Bead November 4th, 1856.] 

 Gutbourtia, Benn. 

 Char. Gen. Calyx bibracteatus, 4-sepalus; sepalis deciduis. 

 Corolla nulla. Stamina 10, libera, saqualia. Ovarium com- 

 pressum, pauci- (2-4-) ovulatum; stylo filiformi; stigmateob- 



