Spumaria.] 



FUNGI. 309 



fiocci, which are umber, like the sporidia, but shine with a golden or 

 bronze-like lustre. They probably vary in form, as in the foregoing 

 species, but I doubt whether Dr. Greville has observed the ixvejiocci,. 

 as his figure recedes so much from the common structure of the species. 

 It should be observed, however, that Fries himself suspected that there 

 are two species with more or less evolved flocci, the one being the hori- 

 zontal state, Bull. t. 4GG./ 4, and the other that figured at t. 476, 1 — 3, 

 which is thephmtof Sowerby and Greville. I have not a specimen by 

 me for examination. Bnlliard's last mentioned figure, however, repre- 

 sents the flocci as erect and springing from the base. If Ditmar's 

 figure be correct, tiie sporidia are sometimes arranged in transverse rows 

 upon the flocci. I have seen, but indistinctly, the same kind of arrangement 

 in R. atra. It may not be superfluous to notice that the best way of 

 observing the flocci in this and other plants of the present tribe, is 

 gently blowing away the sporidia until the flocci alone remain, as in 

 the more minute species their colour is seen with difficulty if any of the 

 sporidia are left. 



4. i?. olivdcea, Fr. (olive Relicularia) ; peridium membrana- 

 ceous subplicate hyaline, flocci adnate dendroid reticulated, 

 sporidia green-olive. Fr. Si/st. 3Iijc. v. 3. p. 89. 



On fallen trunks of fir-trees. Appin. Captain Carmic7iael.— ln 

 the Appin specimens the surface is rather nodulose or tuberculate than 

 plicate. Peridiinn hyaline, but appearing olivaceous from the shining 

 through of the sporidia which are of a beautiful green olive. 



83. ^TiiALiUM. Link, -^thalium. 



Peridium indeterminate, falling away, covered with a floccose 

 bark, within divided by flocci into cells. — Name, a/t)a/.>;, soot. 



1. ^iC. septicam, L. {common ^thaliimi). — Fr. Syst. Myc. 

 r. 3. p. 93 .—a. yellow, ^.faviim, Grev. Sc. Criipt. Ft. t. 272. — 

 Bcticvlaria /tortensis, Bull. t. 424. Sow. t. 399. /. 1. With. 

 V. 4. p. 355. Purt. v. 2. /;. 703.-7?. lutea, Bull. t. 380./. 1. 

 Sow. I. c.f. 2. Purt. V. 3. ;7. 275. — R. carnosa, cerea, Soiv. I. c. 

 j\ 3, 4. — B. septica, Purt. I. c. p.703.—B.ovaia, With. r.4./^.355. 

 — Mucor ovatns, Schdff. t. 192. — M. sepiicus, Linn. Sp. PI. 2. 

 p. 165G. Bolt. t. 134.'— d. violet. — FuUrjo violacca, I^ers. Syn, 

 p. 160. Ic. Pict. t. \.p. I. 



a. On tan in hot-houses, but also on mosses in woods. Common. 

 Very injurious in iiot-houscs from the rapidity of its growth and its 

 abundant sporidia which smoliicr the j)lants. — d. Clifton, Notts, lite. 

 j\I. J. Bcrluhy. A reddish-brown form has also been found near 

 Glasgow. 



84. SrrMARiA. Pcrs. Spumaria. 

 Peridium indeterminate, falling away, simple, divided within 

 into cells by distinct, regular ascending folds. — Name, spuina, 

 foam. 



1. S. alba, Bull, (common Spumaria). — Fr. Syst. Myr. v. 3. 

 p. 95. — Bet. alba, Bull. t. 320 a. laminosa ; folds sessile pass- 

 ing into membranaceous confluent white torn laniinio. AY. ! 



