( 372 ) 



XX\'I. An Account of Rhizomorpha medullar is, a new British 

 Fungus. By Sir James Edward Smith, M.D. F.R.S. P.L.S. 



Read June 17, 1817. 



This, which appears to be a nondescript species of il/j«2;o???orp/ia, 

 was communicated to me by Mr. Francis Boott, an American 

 botanist, who met with it during his visit to Derby, in the course 

 of last spring. Tt was first observed, many months before, by 

 Mr. Bainbrigge, house-surgeon to the Derby Infirmary, and seems 

 to have excited attention as a troublesome intruder into the re- 

 servoir destined to supply the baths. That gentleman thus de- 

 scribes the appearance and situation of the fungus in question. 



" The reservoir in which it was found is a kind of circular cel- 

 lar, M'ith an opening at the top. It is situated in the shrubbery, 

 and contains water to supply the baths, which is conveyed by 

 leaden pipes. As the water is sent by a forcing-pump, a piece of 

 timber was fixed across the upper part, to support a perpendicu- 

 lar pipe that admitted the water. From this timber, which was 

 deal, and not in the least decayed, the plant hung, and as the 

 depth of the water varied, a greater or less quantity floated on 

 the surface. I believe the whole of it would be seldom immersed ; 

 but the wood, and every part of the plant, would be always Avet, in 

 consequence of the water going in with considerable force. I saw 

 the joiner measure the fungus immediately on our getting it out, 

 and he says the length was 12 feet. This I have quite forgotten, 



but 



