136 Linncean Society. 



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 differs but slightly from it in appearance and structure, 

 and always perforated at the apex, while the loose cellular pale stem 

 of P. caninus is at the first glance distinct from 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, Bcrkel. Sf Curt. 



Uterus votundatus, e membrana duplici gelatin^ distenta compositus, 

 lobato-rumpens Receptaculum cuin stipite elongato celluloso-cribroso 

 omnino continuum, obtiisum, perforatum, massa sporifer^ prinium 

 sinuato-cellulosa tenaci niox vero diffluente tectum. SporcE minutas. 

 — Fungi terres/res, oblongi, suhfusiformes, autumnales. Genus a Mu- 

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



C. Ravknelii, u. sp. 



Hab. in sabulosis gvaminosis, juxta fl. Santee Carolinae Australis, 

 autumno. — Curtis, no. 2573, 3037. Ravenel, no. 844. 



Mr. Berkeley describes the egg as globose, f of an inch in dia- 

 meter, the volva bursting in two or three lobes applied to the stem ; 

 the stem 1^-2 inches high, 4-5 lines thick, bright red, coarsely cri- 

 brose, below attenuated, above confluent with the receptacle, which 

 is sometimes broadly clavate, sometimes conical, but always more or 

 less obtuse, pervious at the apex, sometimes half as long as the stem ; 

 the mass of spores dark olive, soon washed off; the odour heavy 

 and nauseous, but only perceptible when the hymenium is brought 

 near to the nose. 



The second subject of Mr. Berkeley's paper relates to a group of 

 Fungi of which Sphcerocarpus capsulifer, BuUiard, is the type, and 

 which appear to have been for the most part neglected by authors, 

 the accounts of them by French botanists (by whom alone they have 

 been noticed) being more or less complete compilations from Bulliard. 

 Externally the fungi in question, with one exception, have the ap- 

 pearance of species of the genus Physarum, the peridium being single 

 and smooth, and the spores mixed with flocci ; the latter are broad 

 and lamellaeform in parts, but vary greatly in breadth, and intermixed 

 with spores as in other Myxogasteres, but these spores grow in little 

 aciniform masses instead of being single as in other allied Fungi, 



