198 Linneau Society. [June 1, 



was young, but when it had arrived at maturity the top was green 

 with a zone of red beneath it, the lower portion of the stem being 

 dirty white sprinkled with reddish brown superficial specks : when the 

 fungus was past maturity, the upper portion passed into a foetid fluid. 

 It would seem that Battarra did not see the fungus when fresh, and 

 that his figure was taken from a dried specimen ; but it is very dif- 

 ficult to conceive how a fungus tapering to a point, as exhibited in 

 Sowerby's figure of P. caninus, could by any mode of drying assume 

 the broadly clavate form exhibited by Battarra's figure. A fungus, 

 however, has been recently found in S. Carolina by H. W. Ravenel, 

 Esq., which exhibits the peculiar form of that of Battarra, and when 

 forwarded to Mr. Berkeley by the Rev. M. A. Curtis was noticed 

 as differing greatly in structure from the other species of Phallus 

 in its not showing the slightest distinction between the stem and 

 hymenium. At a later period specimens of the same species were 

 found by Mr. Ravenel exhibiting the same form as that of P. caninus, 

 but with the ample hymenium more clearly confluent with the 

 stem, which diff'ers but slightly from it in appearance and structure, 

 and. always perforated at the ajiex, while the loose cellular pale stem 

 of P. caninus is at the first glance distinct fi'om the short and more 

 minutely cellular head. No doubt whatever rests in the mind of Mr. 

 Ravenel as to the identity of the clavate and fusiform individuals of 

 his plant ; and as these two forms occur in a species analogous to 

 P. caninus, though not identical with it, Mr. Berkeley is of opinion 

 that we may conclude, with tolerable certainty, that the figure of 

 Battarra does indeed represent a peculiar state of the well-known 

 species. With regard to the plant of S- Carolina, Mr. Berkeley 

 points out the distinctions between it and P. caninus, and thinks 

 that they completely justify the formation of a new genus for its re- 

 ception, unless such genera as Dictyophora, Mutinus, Dictyophallus, 

 &c. are to be rejected, as mere members of the genus Phallus. He 

 therefore proposes to characterize it as follows : — 



CoRYNiTEs, Berkel. Sf Curt. 



Uterus rotundatus, e membrana duplici gelatin^ disteuta compositus, 

 lobato-rutnpens. Iteceptaculum cum stipite elongate celluloso-cribroso 

 omnino continuum, obtusum, perforatum, massa sporifera primum 

 sinuato-cellulosa tenaci mox vero diffluente tectum. Sports minutse. 

 — Fungi terrestres, oblongi, suhfusiformes, autmnnales. Genus a Mu- 

 tino, Fries, differt receptaculo minus discreto, aince perforata. 



C. Ravknelii, n. sp. 



Hub. in sabulosis graminosis, juxta fl. Santee Cavolinae Australia, 

 autumno. — Curtis, no. 2573, 30S7. Ravenel, no. 8-14. 



