THE PHALLOIDEJE OF CEYLON. 147 



appears to have a series of close-set depressions. The gleba 

 is ohve, and the spores are 3-5-4X 1'5/^. 



Much confusion has arisen in the descriptions of the various 

 " species " of Dictyophora by the varying accounts of the top 

 of the stalk, whether the apex is open or closed. When the 

 receptaculum first expands the cap is covered wholly or in part 

 by a fine white membrane which vanishes as the fungus matures : 

 in general, it persists for some time over the opening of the 

 stalk and thus makes it appear to be closed, and if specimens 

 in this state are dried or placed in alcohol this membrane is 

 preserved. It is merely a free superficial film, which is not 

 present when the fungus has ripened completely. The apex 

 of the stalk is open in all Ceylon examples of Dictyophora, and 

 from their structure it may be fairly assumed that it is the 

 presence of this membrane which has misled describers. The 

 opening varies from 5 mm. to 1 cm. in diameter. 



The netted indusium, which is the characteristic feature of 

 Dictyophora, is united to the stalk, the junction being usually 

 hidden by the cap. In this, the genjeral case, the free edge of 

 the cap rests on the net, but specimens are common in which 

 the two are not in contact, owing either to an upward curl 

 of the lower edge of the cap through age, or to a greater ex- 

 tension than usual of the thin upper portion of the stalk. The 

 outer chambers of the wall of the stalk break up into a series 

 of more or less longitudinal ridges, and to these the net is 

 attaclied. There is a considerable amount of variation in the 

 thickness of the bars of the net at the top ; sometimes they are 

 immensely thickened and form plates which coalesce with the 

 stalk, producing a honeycomb of large chambers. In outline the 

 net is broadly campanulate : it collapses into folds when old, 

 and is then conical, the outline then depending on the thickness 

 and rigidity of the upper bars. If the net before collapsing is 

 resting on the ground, we get the appearance of Holler's fig. 4, 

 pi. 4. The meshes of the net are rounded or polygonal : the 

 bars are flattened or somewhat rounded, hollow, and often 

 perforated. The lower edge of the net is entire or broken. 



In general the fungus expands in the early morning, but 

 apparently not so early in Ceylon as noted by Moller in Brazil. 

 I have gathered specimens at 9 a.m. in which the net was not 



