Geaster.] 



FUNGI. 299 



published, I have only to add that in the dry state the interior of the 

 lower portion of the volva is roui^h like the stem, and that the stem 

 itself is almost woody and has a filamentous cord running down from 

 the apex exactly as in Bat. Gaudichaudii, Ann. des. Sc. N. S. v. 2./>. 76. 

 tA.f. 1. They/ocr/, at least those immediately next to the receptacle, 

 for the specimen I have had an opportunity of examining is much 

 bleached, are as in that species branched and anastomosing ; sporidia 

 globose or subglobose, slightly angular with a rather broad pellucid 

 border. The stem at the apex is of a perfectly distinct substance from 

 the pUcus and enters into it in a slightly different way from that repre- 

 sented by Sowerby, being rounded above, while half the rounded [)ortioa 

 is adriate with it, its component filaments turning abruptly back and 

 passing into the coat of the pileus. So that in fact the difference of 

 structure between this species and B. Gaudichaudii is not so great as 

 might at first be supposed. Sowerby represents the stem as slightly 

 attenuated at the base but this does not accord with the only specimen 

 in his Herbarium in which it is slightly incrassated. The squarrose 

 appearance of the stem, when dry, arises from the outer layers being 

 broken up and detached from below, the inner layers running down for 

 a greater length than those which are more external. The consequence 

 of which structure taking place in any eminent degree would certainly 

 be the attenuation of the base of the stem as in B. Gaudichaudii. 

 Mr. Dickson remarked that the sporidia just before the plant l)ursts 

 through the sand are darker than when they have emerged from dark- 

 ness into light. This strikingly corroborates the general remark of 

 Fries Hiat tiie colour of the sporidia in the present grouj)eis intimately 

 connected with the mode of vegetation ; the truly subterraneous species 

 having hlack sporidia; those which are at first subterraneous, then 

 emerged, brown sporidia; while those which are free have them of 

 some brighter hue. The structure of this very curious fimgus as com- 

 pared with Geaster, and especially Geaster Bryardii which. has a very 

 distinct channel round the top of the stem, api)ears to me as far as I 

 can judge from expanded specimens only, to be as follows : — The outer 

 coat with its gelatinous stratum answers to the volva of Gcastrum, the 

 second and third coat (the middle and inner volva of Smith) which are 

 connate with the outer one, just above the point where the stem is 

 givcji off answering to the inner peridium. The truth of this would 

 j)robabIy appear more evident before the development of the stem and 

 the consequent rupture of the membranes. 



73. Geasteu. Mich. Starry Piiffball. 



Piriilnnu double, outer distinct persistent, splittiui^ into star- 

 like expandinj^ rays. — Name, yr^, the earth, and a'rrr;?, a star, 



* Orijices iiumcTous. 



1. C. rolifnrniis, Dicks. {Cullender Starr// PitffludI) ; outer 

 ]>eri(liuni mnltifid pat^-nt, interior supported by many stems, 

 pierced with numerous ciliated orifices. Pcrs. Syti. p. 131. 



J^r. St/st. M;/c. V. 3. p. 12 Lyrnp. coli/ormc, Dichs. I. p. '2\.t. 



3./. 4. JVith. V. 4. p. 342. Wood u\ Linn. Fr. v. 2. p. 59. 

 Sow. t. 3 1 S. Part. n. 1 075. — Fungus C'oli instar pcrforatus, c^c. 

 Dill, in haii St/n. p. 27, 



