MTXOGASTEES. 



381 



On living grass, &c. 



In its young^ state having the appearance of a white froth, variable in size. 

 At this period it is quite soft and pulpy, but in a few days it becomes of a 

 firmer texture, the surface begins to scale oflF, to burst in the centre, and to 

 emit a vast number of dark-coloured globose spores. When the spores have 

 escaped, they are found to have been contained in numerous branched, horn- 

 like, nearly erect, membranaceous folds, resembling irregular, imperfect, 

 diviiied tubes. — Grev. {Fig. 122.) 



Gen. 78. 



PTYCHOGASTER, Ca. 



.A '.. 



t' 

 ^ 



1104. 



Fig. 123. 

 Ptychog aster albus. Corda. 



Peridium thick, fleshy, 

 sub-stipitate, lamelloso-cel- 

 lulose "within, strata irregu- 

 lar fertile and sterile mixed, 

 cells composed of congliiti- 

 nated flocci, which are sim- 

 ple and flexuous. Spores 

 simple, acrogenous. — Corda 

 Ic. ii.jy. 24.. {Fig. 123.} 



"White Ptychogaster." 



Peridium rounded, soft, white, peduncle spurious, cells flex- 

 uous, unec^ual ; spores ochrev-clay colour, very minute, ovoid, 

 pellucid, mixed with the continuous flocci. — B. ^' Br. Ann. N.H. 

 (1865), 710. 1038. Corda. Icon. ii.,/. 90. Corda. AnI.t. C. f.o-i, 

 no. 7-10. 



On the ground, at the roots of firs. Ahoyne, &c. 



The affinities of this curious plant are doubtful, for it does not appear to 

 be of the creamy consistence of ^thaloxm in any stage of growth. We have 

 no better opinion, however, to give than that of Corda. Fries seems to think 

 that it is a degeneration of Polyporm destructor. — B. d: Br. {Fig. 123.) 



Gen. 79. 



DIDERMA, P. 



Peridium double, external dis- 

 tinct, crustaceous, smooth ; in- 

 ternal delicate, evanescent, at- 

 tached to the straggling flocci, 

 with or without a columella. — 

 Berk. Outl. p. 306. Eng. Fl. \.p. 

 310. {Fig. 124.) 



Fig. 124. 



