37-4 Sir J. E. Smith's Account of Rhizomorpha mechdlar-is. 



opinion. The taste of the dried plant has nothing of a fungus- 

 like flavour, but in its slight astringency agrees with many, almost 

 tasteless, roots. The above history of the origin of the plant, 

 from a piece of wrought Avood, and its copious growth, must pre- 

 clude all idea of its being any thing else than a parasitical fungus. 



The specific character may thus be given : 



Rhizomorpha, medullaris, teres ramosissima nivea; intiis cel- 

 lulosa flavescens. 



REFERENCE TO PLATE XX. 



Tig, 1. A portion of the stem of Rhizomorpha medullaris. 



2. Termination of a principal branch. 



3. A transverse section of the stem magnified. 



London, J. E. SmITH. 



June 12, 1817. 



XXVII. A Cell- 



