HYMENOMYCETES. 



5 T. viscosA. Pers. 



Effused, of a soft waxy consistence, closelj^ adhering to the 

 matrix ; when thin, diaphanous ; circumference slightly ra- 

 diating ; hymenium sub-viscid, smooth, cracked when dry ; 

 varying from pale livid to dark dusky purplish in the same 

 specimen. I find in my notes that this plant, when submitted 

 to a succession of changes from dryness to moisture, seems to 

 produce two or more super-imposed layers of hymenium. Not 

 uncommon on fallen branches. This was written of Corticium 

 viscosum, before I had seen the Rev. M. J. Berkeley's notes on 

 the species, in accordance with which I have removed it to the 

 genus Tremella. See the series in the Annals, No. 727. 



Genus XXXV. EXIDIA. Fries. 



5 E. Auricula Judjs, L. 



1 — 3 bi'oad. Spores oblong, curved. '00085. Concave, thin, 

 flcxuous ; within, nearly smooth, wax-like, with folds towards 

 the centre like those of the human ear, soon becoming black ; 

 without, tomentose, dusky brown. On elder trees. Tranmere. 

 New Brighton. A variety occurs on willow posts, near New 

 Brighton, of a fine umber colour ; in the younger specimens the 

 cup is quite entire and sub-stipitate ; within, pale brownish, 

 grey ; without, brownish olive ; growing profusely, and in 

 one specimen attaining a breadth of five inches. This, not- 

 withstanding its colour, shape when young, and habit of 

 growth on willow, can hardly prove to be E. recisa, for the 

 under side is not punctato-scabrous, nor is it in fact distinguish- 

 able from the under side of E. Auricula Jiidce. 



6 E. GLANDULOSA. Bull. ? Witches' Butter. 



A most curious and abnormal variety of this plant, if indeed 

 . it be this plant, grows on old whitethorn trees, Knowsley. 

 Effused, thick, substance between gelatinous and soft cheesy ; 

 an inch in depth, 3 or 4 inches wide, 8 inches or a foot in 

 length ; at first cream-coloured, opaque, soon darker, at length 

 porous, friable, and quite black. The substance does not 

 appear firm enough to assume a regular shape ; it forms, how- 

 ever, irregular cavities, the concave surface of which is 

 papillose and fertile. The spores are stoutly ellijitic, not 

 curved, nucleated, 00045 in length, mixed with innumerable 

 sterigmata. The plant is not altogether fertile, but fertile 

 portions are found mixed up with the stroma, as if they had 

 been overgrown by the rapid exudacious increase of the plant. 



Gems XXXVI. N^MATELIA. Fries. 



7 N. ENCEPHALA. Willd. 



Substance cheese-like, becoming hard, roughly tubcrculiform 

 and plieate ; yellowish flesh-colour, at length brown. Nucleus 

 large, white. Ou larch rails, Bidston and Stourton. 



105 



