FUNGI (J. Ramsbottom) 119 
Moreover the microscopic structure of the sclerotium in 
L. Tuber-regium is exactly similar to that described by Schroeter, 
and afterwards by Bommer, in L. Woermanni. The internal 
tissue is of two kinds: (1) hyphae 2-3 „ wide, undulating, 
knotty, geniculate but little ramified ; and (2) globose, elliptical 
or elongate structures 10-20 p in diameter. With regard to the 
exterior Schroeter recorded one thin layer composed of brown, 
strongly interwoven filaments 3-4 u wide, with a very narrow 
lumen. Bommer noted a more marked differentiation at the 
exterior of the sclerotium: an outer layer 50 p thick of cells 
with sclerotised walls, consisting of an inner and outer portion ; 
beneath this a second layer about 75 p thick with the hyphal 
walls less sclerotised. The same differentiation has been observed 
in certain sections of the sclerotium of L. Tuber-regium, but the 
layers are not at all so definite as Bommer’s account would 
suggest. 
The felt in the hollows of the sclerotium, first noticed by 
Bommer, is similar to that of the stipe. In both instances it 
consists of straight hyphae usually about 2 p wide with very 
refringent contents. 
In 1901 Massee (in Kew Bull. 163) published a new species, 
Lentinus flavidus, from Old Calabar. The pileus is described as 
smooth, the stipe as “ densissime velutino-hispidulus, brunneus,” 
the spores as elliptical 10 x 44. The fungus grows singly from 
a sclerotium. Miss Wakefield (in Kew Bull. 1912) records the 
same fungus from Nigeria and suggests that it may possibly be 
the same as L. Tuber-regium; she kindly showed me the two 
specimens at Kew, and there is not the slightest doubt that both 
are young specimens of L. Tuber-regium. In the type-specimen 
of L. flavidus the squamules are not very well marked, but they 
are distinctly present. : 
It is evident that the plant which was described by Rumphius 
and so long lost sight of, is fairly common in West Africa, and 
it is probable that L. Woermanni Cohn & Schroet. and certainly 
that L. flavidus Mass. are merely stages of the same fungus. 
Two other species of Lentinus which grow from sclerotia, 
L. Cyathus B. & Br. and L. scleroticola Murr., have also been 
examined. The types are in the National Herbarium. They 
are quite distinct from one another and from L. Tuber-regium. 
Polystietus sacer Fr. This specimen shows an interesting 
abnormality. A single stipe starts from the sclerotium, which 
bifurcates a little above halfway. The main stipe evidently grew 
the more quickly and formed a normal pileus. The branch, 
though slower in growth, apparently continued to grow some 
time longer as it has forced its way through the first formed 
pileus, and then produced a second normal one over it. 
