40 



FUNGALES. 



[Thallogexs. 



ties. 



In the coal mines near Dresden the species are described as giving those 



places the air of an en- 

 chanted castle ; the roof, 

 walls, and pillars, are en- 

 tirely covered with them, 

 their beautiful hght almost 

 dazzling the eye. The light 

 is found to increase with 

 the temperatui'e of the 

 mines. Ed. P. J. xiv. 



Several species of geniiine 

 Fimgi have been observed 

 to be phosphorescent in 

 various parts of the world. 

 Agaricus Gardneri, Berk., 

 which grows on a sort of 

 Palm called Pintada in 

 Brazil is highly luminous. 

 Such also is the case with 

 Agaricus olearius in the 

 South of Europe, as ob- 

 served by Delile. {Arch, 

 de la Bot. vol. ii. p. 519.) 

 Mr. Dinimmond has found 

 two or more luminous spe- 

 cies at the Swan River, 

 {HooTc. Lond. Joum. of 

 ^o#.ii.p.263 ;) and Rum- 

 phius observed the same 

 phenomenon in Amboyna. 

 It is a most remark- 

 able circumstance, and one 

 which deserves particular 

 inquiry, that the growth 







Fig. XXV. 



constitute what is called 

 mouldmess, is effectually 

 :n.H prevented by any kind of 

 perfume. It is known that 

 books will not become 

 mouldy in the neighbour- 

 hood of Russia leather, 

 nor any substance, if placed 

 within the influence of some 

 essential oil. Polyporus 

 fomentarius, or an alhed 

 species, is used in India as 

 a stj-ptic, as well as for 

 Amadou. It is also em. 

 ployed by the Laplanders 

 and others as Moxa. 

 (Ainslie, i. 5.) The Boleti, 

 when wounded, heal much 

 in the same manner as the 

 flesh of animals. {Edin. 



Philosoph.Journ. xiv. 369.) 



A very curious phenomenon takes place in several species of the genus Boletus, and 

 analogous appearances present themselves m other genera. The flesh, when broken, 

 changes very rapidly from yellow or white to deep blue, and if the juice be squeezed 

 out, though at first colom-less, it quickly becomes blue. Professor Robinson of Armagh 

 has ascertained that this is not a chemical action, but beUeves it to arise from some 

 change in the molecular arrangement. Tannin, though prejudicial to most vegetables, 

 is not so always to Fmigi. A species of Rhizomorpha is often developed in *tan-pits! 

 The greatest proper heat met mth by Dutrochet in the Vegetable Kingdom, with the 



Fig. XXV.— Sphaeria Robertsii, growing from the caterpillar of a New Zealand moth called Hepialus 

 virescens. 



