Sand-Dune Fungi. H. J. Wheldon. 147 



balls" are well represented, often in considerable abundance, 

 by Lycoperdon caelatum, L. perlatum, L. Cookei, Bovisla plumbea 

 and B. cepaeformis. On the golf links there Ts an abundance 

 of Marasmius oreades. Miss E. M. Blackwcll has sent me 

 Lepiota erminea and Annillaria haematites from this locality. 



I have mentioned that the inner dunes have been extensively 

 planted with conifers, and I feel I cannot conclude without 

 referring to the most interesting variety of 'fungi which has 

 been introduced with these trees, particularly those species 

 usually confined to old-established pine woods. It is remark- 

 able to find so many fungi which are usually associated with 

 pine woods thriving in such abvmdance in so unexpected a 

 locality. In view of the meagre nourishment there must be 

 in the loose sand in which they grow, one can come to no other 

 conclusion than that sustenance is provided by buried pine 

 needles, cones and twigs, and possibly in some cases the mycelial 

 hyphae absorb nutrition from the root-fibres of the trees. Also, 

 it must not be overlooked that the enormous quantity of pollen 

 shed by the conifers must contribute considerably to the food 

 supply of the fungi. It would be an interesting work to investi- 

 gate and record the fungi occurring in the numerous recognised 

 plant associations. In this direction it is noteworthy that if 

 the fungi occurring in the young conifer plantations on the 

 sand-dunes be compared with those of established pine woods, 

 the similarity of species is strikingly apparent, and when it is 

 considered that before the conifers were planted in this locality, 

 the dunes were practically devoid of vegetation, the entity of the 

 pine wood association would appear to be demonstrated 

 practically. The following fungi appear in numbers: Lepiota 

 procera, Armillaria ramentacea, Collybia conigena, C. tenacella, 

 Gomphidius viscidus, Gomphidius gracilis, Tricholoma terreum, 

 Paxillus lepista, Russula purpurea, R. integra, Lactarius vellereus, 

 L. deliciosus, L. piperatus, L. torminosus, L. controversus, 

 Clitocybe fragrans, C. ditopus, C. cerrusata, Boletus flavits, 

 Boletus badius in addition to a number of discomycetes and 

 pyrenomycetes on fallen twigs, cones and leaves. Hydnum 

 auriscalpium is frequent on old cones. 



Particularly interesting is the abundant growth of Thelephora 

 caryophyllea in the loose sand about the roots of young sallows 

 and other young shrubs especially where these have been cut 

 down to the base, which is sometimes done to promote bushy 

 growth. Thelephora laciniata is plentiful in the older pine 

 plantations amongst the covering of fallen pine needles. 



Generalising on the growth of fungi on the sand-dunes, 

 naturally the most favourable places are the damp hollows 

 dominated by Salix repens or the tree-planted areas, and here 



