On the fructification 0/ Lycoperdon, ^c. 155 



XV. — On the Fructification of hycoiperdony Phallus^ and their 

 allied Genera. — By the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, M.A., 

 F.L.S. 



[With a Plate.] 



A GREAT step has been taken towards a more satisfactory ar- 

 rangement of Fungi by the discovery of the real structure of 

 the fruit-bearing organs in Hymenomycetes. The species of 

 the group Tremellini have not yet been sufficiently studied, 

 and it is possible that fresh light may be thrown upon the 

 Bclerotiacei, but, since the separation of Discomycetes, the 

 other Fungi of the class agree admirably in structure. It is 

 probable however that two groups of considerable importance, 

 though not abounding in species, are still to be added to Hy- 

 menomycetes, The structure of Trichogastres and Phalloidei 

 is confessedly very imperfectly understood. This has arisen 

 partly from the extreme difficulty of ascertaining it with the 

 older microscopes, but more especially from the plants having 

 been seldom examined in a sufficiently early stage of growth. 

 Till Klotzsch* gave under the name oi Hymenangium an ana- 

 lysis of Rhizopogon virens, which indeed is not arranged by 

 Fries amongst the Trichogastres, nothing at all was known of 

 the manner in which the reproductive organs are developed. 

 The learned mycologist does not seem to have suspected its 

 relation to the Trichogastres. He informs us that Dr. Wal- 

 roth has found in Grunewald a genus allied to it, and that 

 Gautiera of Vittadini belongs also to Hymenomycetes. Both 

 are probably subterraneous Lycoperdons. 



If a young plant of Lycojjerdon ccslatum or L, gemmatum 

 be cut through and examined with a common pocket lens it 

 will be found to consist of a fleshy mass perforated in every 

 direction with minute elongated reticulato-anastomosing laby- 

 rinthiform cavities. The resemblance of these to the tubes of 

 certain Boleti in an early stage of growth first led me to suspect 

 that there must be some very close connexion between them. 

 If a very thin slice now be taken, while the mass is yet firm, 

 and before there is the slightest indication of a change of co- 

 lour, the outer stratum of the walls of these cavities is found 



* Dietrich's Flora Regni Borussici, vol. vi. t. 382. Berlin, 1838. 



