152 FETCH : 



the edges of the flower beds : elsewhere in the Gardens one 

 finds only D. phalloidea. 



This species is always pure white, and is smaller than D. 

 phalloidea; the total height varies from 8 to 16 centimetres, 

 most of the specimens being about 10 cms. In large sj)ecimens 

 the stalk is attenuated upwards, while in the average specimen 

 it is almost of uniform diameter throughout. The structure 

 of the lower part of the stalk is the same as that of D. phalloidea. 

 The cap is of the same shape as in phalloidea, or often rather 

 wider in proportion to its height than in that species. 



The difference between the two species lies in the structure 

 of the cap. The outer surface of this in D. irpicina appears 

 granular, with a few obscure, irregularly curved or longitudinal 

 elevations. Patouillard says, " des cretes minces, peu 

 ele vees , rectihgnes ou diversement contournees , tres rapprochees 

 les unes les autres, parfois incisees ou interrompues, simple 

 ou rameuses, a arete obtuse, qui couvrent toute la face 

 externe." 



The cap has the appearance of the arm of Colus Gardneri, 

 and, as in that species, the sporiferous part consists of closely 

 packed, contorted, or flat, anastomosing membranous processes 

 at right angles to the basal layer of tissue. Tlie thickness of 

 the cap varies from '75 to 3 mm. in the middle, diminishing 

 towards the upper and lower edges. The basal layer is about '2 

 mm. thick : when viewed from the under surface it appears 

 irregularly reticulated with fairly close-set, straight, or curved 

 thickenings, between which it is often j)erf orated. These 

 thickenings mark the lines of origin of the side walls of a single 

 layer of closed chambers which underlies the membranous 

 gleba-bearing processes. These chambers are "TS-l mm. 

 broad, and "25- "5 mm. high, in cross section. From the 

 upper surface of these arise the branching, close-packed pro- 

 cesses which form the remainder of the thickness of the head. 

 Towards the edge of the cap the basal layer of chambers may 

 be wanting. As a rule, the surface of the cap, though appear- 

 ing granular, is even : in exceptional cases it is thrown into 

 irregular longitudinal ridges which are produced by the 

 different lengths of the processes in different parts of 

 the cap. 



