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produced low down on the stem in the same fashion (fig. 19). An instructive example 
of alike kind was described and figured by Mr. Worthington Smith, in the Gar- 
deners’? Chronicle,* in which Agaricus laccatus, Scop., produced many filiform 
stems, surmounted by small pilei (fig. 20). The secondary pilei in these instances 
were not perfectly developed, and a sceptic may dispute their claim to be true 
receptacles. I will give cases where no doubt can possibly exist. My friend, Mr. 
Plowright, sent me a specimen of Agaricus stans, having a fairly-well developed 
secondary receptacle, with a pileus a quarter of an inch across, and a stem nearly 
half an inch long, arising from the parent stem, about half-way up from the base 
(fig. 21). Mr. Worthington Smith gives a figure of Lactarius quietus,+ in section 
(fig. 22), with a supplemental receptacle, and other instances might be added were 
it necessary. 
“‘T will now direct your attention to a few facts illustrative of superior prolifi- 
cation. To this category belongs a very singular monstrosity figured by Mr. 
Worthington Smith, in the Journal of Botany, of Boletus edulis, Bull, on the 
pileus of which were seated two supplementary receptacles ; the one in which the 
pileus was not supported by a stem, the other in which a perfect and proportionate 
stem was present (fig. 23). It may be contended, but in my mind without adequate 
reason or probability, that the two supplementary receptacles were developed on 
the soil immediately above where the elder receptacle was being developed, 
and were lifted up by it. It is much easier to believe that it is the result of pro- 
lification, which, if it will account satisfactorily for the facts already cited of re- 
ceptacles produced from the stipes, may equally well account for this. But take 
fig. 9, which represents a section of Russula vitellina, on the pileus of which a 
secondary receptacle is thrown up, having no semblance whatever of being an in- 
dependent plant, and if it is accepted in the one case it may be in the other. 
‘“‘T am disposed to refer two curious monstrosities to this cause which came 
under my own observation very recently. The first was a plant of Paxillus 
involutus, which had formed a hymenial surface on the top of its pileus, of limited 
area and of a curiously reticulated form, resembling the hymenium of a large 
grooved Polyporus (fig. 25). The other was a Hydnum vepandum, on the upper 
surface of the pileus of which were found clusters of upright spines exactly similar 
to the normal ones beneath. Detached groups of spines were also formed on the 
upper part of the stem, but this is not so unusual a circumstance (tig. 26). 
‘One solitary instance of included prolification came under my notice some 
time since. of which I have never seen a similar case recorded. Amongst a num- 
ber of specimens of Agaricus campestris bought in Shrewsbury market, I observed 
one which possessed a remarkable umbo, and on cutting the specimen perpendic- 
ularly through the umbo, I found it to be caused by the formation of a hollow 
space in the form of a small pileus, with perfect gills radiating from a common 
centre, but with no trace of a stem (fig. 27). It was seated entirely within the 
flesh of the pileus, some distance below the cuticle. No conceivable cause of this 
phenomenon can be alleged except prolification. 
* Gardeners’ Chronicle, July 26th, 1873. + Gardeners’ Chronicle, 1876. 
