1917-18.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 301 



Notes on the Occurrence of Clathrus cancellatus, 

 Tournf., in Argyllshire. By Very Rev. David 

 Paul, D.D., LL.D. (With Plate No. VI.) 



(Read 13th December 1917.) 



This fungus was found by me on 10th September 1917 

 near Kilmelford, Argyll, growing in a flower border ex- 

 tending along the wall of a shooting-lodge. There were 

 about six specimens, mostly in the " egg " stage. One that 

 had burst the skin of the " egg " developed well later, and 

 was photographed. Other two were also brought home, 

 and grew to maturity. 



It appears that this fungus has not been found before 

 in Scotland. In England it is rare, and confined to the 

 extreme south. It has been found in the Isle of Wight, 

 Torquay, Lyme Regis, Haslemere, Bournemouth, and near 

 Windsor. It has never been gathered by the British 

 Mycological Society in any of their forays. It is said to 

 have been found in the south of Ireland. 



Beyond Britain the plant occurs frequently in the south 

 and west of France, but not apparently north of the latitude 

 of Paris. It is found also in Italy and Southern Europe in 

 general ; also in the Mediterranean islands and in North 

 Africa. It is said also to have occurred near Brussels and 

 between Haarlem and Amsterdam. Krombholz does not 

 appear to have found it in Bohemia. 



Clathrus cancellatus is a fungus of the order Phalloidei, 

 of which Phallus impudicus is among us the best-known 

 representative. It is a very conspicuous and beautiful 

 plant. At first it is enclosed in a volva, with a raised 

 pentagonal network, and a long, white slender root. When 

 the volva bursts, the hymenium inside expands, and rises 

 in the form of a circular or ovoid hollow sphere to a height 

 of about four inches. This sphere is perforated in lattice- 

 or trellis-fashion (hence the specific name), and the exterior 

 colouring is a fine pinkish-red. The interior of the anasto- 

 mosing branches is covered with an olive-brown mucus in 

 which the spores are embedded, as in Phallus. The odour 

 is extremely disgusting, so that the plant cannot be brought 

 into a room, but this odour disappears in drying. 



