REVISIONS OF CEYLON FUNGI. 389 



the thin universal veil. In ' Revisions of Ceylon Fungi " 

 (Ann. Perad., IV., p. 33, ei. seq.) it was stated that owing to 

 the peculiar charactesr of the gills, this species might possibly 

 be related to Oudemansiella. The features there referred to, 

 however, are not constant. The edges of the gills may be either 

 sharp or blunt, and when blunt they are generally crenate, 

 but in many cases tliey do not present any pecuharity. In 

 some specimens, however, the edge is quite different. The 

 gills normally are white, while the trama is subgelatinous and 

 translucent. In these abnormal specimens, the white layers 

 of basidia on either surface of the gills do not meet over the 

 edge, but are separated by a narrow hne of the tranial tissue. 

 Consequently, on looking at the edge one sees a central trans- 

 lucent band bordered on each side by the white edge of the 

 hymenium. The hymenial layer curves round on the stalk 

 and unites with that of the adjacent lamella ; consequently 

 the translucent hne widens and ends in a triangular patch 

 behind. Further, the white line of rather loose tissue, which 

 generally runs down the stem from the gill in the normal form . 

 begins in these cases on the thick edge of the gill about midwaj' 

 between the margin of the pileus and the stalk, and runs along 

 the middle of the translucent band up to and down tlie stalk. 

 But in no case is the edge of the gill furrowed. 



A further variation consists in the presence of rather large, 

 thin, triangular sheets of loose, white tissue, hanging from the 

 edges of the gills or the margin of the pileus. This tissue 

 appears to be of the same texture as the lines on the upper part 

 of the stalk : the latter run in continuation of the gills, but 

 they are not of the same texture as the gills^ being much looser 

 and non-gelatinous. 



Rick has stated that Oudemansiella platensis Speg. is a 

 Mycena parasitized by a Phycomycete ; and it has been 

 suggested that the abnormal forms of the Ceylon species are due 

 to the same cause. But I can find no evidence to support this 

 view. It is certain that the exposure of the trama along the 

 edges of the gills is due to weather conditions, i.e., is caused by 

 the absorption of moisture by the subgelatinous inner tissues, 

 and it seems probable that the occurrence of triangular fiocci 

 on the gills is due to an abnormal growth of the tissue which 



7(12)09 (51) 



