164 FUNGI. [Thelephora. 



brown, branches flat dilated palmate pubescent, tlie tips white. 

 Fr. StjsL Myc. v. 1. p. 432, — Clavaria palmata, Scop. Fl. 

 Cam. p. 48'3. — Merisma fcetidura, Grev. Scot. Crypt. Fl. t. 46. 

 FL EL p. 411. — /3 suhferruginous ; branches smooth fastig-iate 

 obtusely laciniated. Clavaria anthocephala, Bull. t. 452. f. 1. 

 Sow. t. 156. With. V. 4. p. 338. 



Woods. In various places, but not very common — " Smell very bad a 

 few minutes after gathering. Varying from ^ an inch to more than 4 

 inches in height, and from a single stem to a dense mass 2 or 3 inches 

 in thickness." Grev. I. c. If all the forms mentioned by Flies 

 are rightly assigned to this species, it is very variable. A peculiar 

 form, or species, appears to be represented by Purton, Midi. Fl. v. 3. 

 n. 1506. t. 18, under the name of Clavaria miniata. This is referred by 

 Dr. Greville in Loudon's Hortus Britannicus, p. 462, to Anthina, but its 

 habit as far as I can form any judgment from the figure alone is scarcely 

 that of the genus. The following is Purton's description. "Leathery, 

 bright orange to vermilion-red. The upper part is faintly bordered with 

 undulated bands of orange and white, alternately arranged. The whole 

 plant emits copiously from every part of its surface, but principally 

 from the top, a powder of the colour of gamboge, which mixed with 

 water tinges the whole fluid of a bright vermilion-red." Purt. I. c. 

 Fries appears to be quite right in abolishing the genus Merisma. The 

 • character of being fin-nished on all sides with an Hymeniiim, appears, at 

 first sight, very strong, but a comparison of the species with the stipitate 

 ThelepliorcE shows very clearly that they are both constructed on the 

 same principle. Highly laciniated and proliferous specimens of T. 

 elegans display a tendency to assume this form, which appears to arise 

 from the upper hollowed surface of the several portions of the pileus 

 becoming obliterated and reduced to a mere j)oint, so as to present the 

 appearance of branches uniformly surrounded by the hymenium. Many 

 reasons and examples are given by Fries, El. v. 1. j). 157, which amply 

 bear him out ; what takes place accidentally in some species, being in 

 others the normal formation. 



5. T. itiberosa, Grev. (^tuberous -rooted Thelephora) ; erect 

 distinct stipitate reddish- grey, pileus composed of laciniated 

 branches, stem bulbous at the base. Fr. El. v. 1. p. 167. — 

 Merisma tuherosum, Grev. Scot. Crypt. Fl. t. 178. 



On the ground, in bare places ; autumn. Very rare. Foxhall near 

 Edinburgh, Capt. Wangh.—'- Scattered. Subcoriaceons, about 1 inch 

 high. Pileus about § of the height of the entire plant, variously divided 

 into compressed acute or obtuse branches. The main branches are 

 given off from the same point and are disposed in a circular manner, 

 leaving the centre free and somewhat infundibuliform. Stem nearly 

 cylindrical, obscurely furrowed or lacunose, bulbous at the base. 

 Hymenium covering the whole plant, except the stem. Sporules oval, 

 very numerous." Grev. I. c. 



6. T. cristdta, Pers. {crested Thelephora) ; pale, at first re- 

 supinate, at length branched, the branches formed by incrusting 

 various substances, their extremities plane fimbriate. Fr. Syst. 



Myc. V. I. /?. 434 Clavaria laciniata. Bull. t. 415./ 1. Sow. 



f. 168. With. V. 4. p. 338. Purt. Midi. Fl. v. 2 4 3. n. 1062. 



