74 A MONOGRAPH OF THE GENUS PODAXIS DESV. (= PODAXON FR.). 



Podaxis Desvaux,* Journ. Bot. torn. ii. p. 97 (1809) ; Fries, 

 Syst. Orb. Veg. pars. i. Plant. Homon. p. 159 (1825). Fries says: 

 " Genus mihi ignotum, Cauloglosso forsan analogon." Podaxon 

 Fries, Syst. Myc. iii. p. 62 (1829) ; this is the first time the word 

 Podaxon was used, and Fries explains its appearance as follows : — 

 " Nomen now; et a.%uv derivatuin, Podaxon scribendum est." Corda, 

 Icon. Fung. v. p. 24 (1842) ; Sacc. Syll. Fung. vol. vii. pars. i. 

 p. 58 (1888). Lycoperdon Bosc. Act. Soc. Hist. Nat. de Paris, 

 torn. i. pars i. p. 47 (1792) ; Linn. Mant. PI. p. 313 (1767) ; Linn. 

 Suppl. PI. p. 453 (1781). Scleroderma Pers. Syn. Meth. Fung, 

 p. 150 (1801). Mitremyces Sprengel, Syst. Veg. p. 518 (1827). 

 Cicnium Spreng. Syst. Veg. p. 529 (1827). Schiveinitzia Grev. 

 Edin. Phil. Journ. vol. viii. p. 257 (1823). 



Desvaux was undoubtedly the first to notice that the species 

 called Lycoperdon axatum by Bosc was generically distinct from 

 Lycoperdon and Scleroderma, consequently bis name of Podaxis has 

 been restored, the reason given above by Fries for substituting 

 Podaxon not being valid ; other things being equal, grammatical 

 accuracy is most desirable, but, considering that a generic name is 

 only of symbolic value, it is best to adhere to the original symbol, 

 thereby avoiding the inevitable complication following any tampering 

 with the original name. 



All the species appear to be white when young, the peridium 

 and stem passing at maturity to a dingy ochre, varying more or 

 less in intensity, but of no specific value ; neither is the great 

 variability in texture of the peridium, which varies from polished 

 to fibrillose or squamose in the same species ; whereas the colour of 

 the spores when mature appears to be constant. The colour of 

 spores described as seen in the mass is as it appears to the naked 

 eye, whereas the colour of individual spores is as seen under the 

 microscope by transmitted light. 



A. Capillitium abundant, threads coloured. 



1. Podaxis indica (Spreng.). — Peridium elliptical, even, rather 

 polished ; basal margin irregularly lacerated after dehiscence ; stem 

 elongated, attenuated upwards, hollow, more or less incrassated at 

 the base ; mass of capillitium and spores dark reddish brown ; 

 capillitium very dense, threads simple or rarely branching at wide 

 angles, bright brown, very much curled and intertwined, 9-11 p. 

 thick, spiral marking distinct, often splitting into a flat, spirally- 

 coiled ribbon ; spores bright brown, irregularly globose or broadly 

 elliptical, 10-12 or 10-12 x 9-10 p, smooth. 



Mitremyces indicus Spreng. Syst. Veg. v. 5, p. 518. Scleroderma 

 pistillare Pers. Syn. Meth. Fung. p. 150. Lycoperdon pistillare 

 Linn. Mant. PI. p. 313. Schweinitzia pistillaris Grev. in Edin. 

 Phil. Journ. vol. viii. p. 257, pl. vi. (in the text the spelling of the 

 generic name given in honour of Schweinitz, the mycologist, is 

 correct, but on the plate it is " Schweinizia," and this mistake is 

 copied by Fries, S. Si. iii. pp. 62-63). Podaxon pistillaris Fries, 



* ' Observations sur quelques genres a etablir dans la famille cles Champignons.' 



