FUNGI (J. Ramsbotfcom) 119 



Moreover the mici-oscopic structure of the sclerotium in 

 L. Tiiher-regium is exactly similar to that described by Schroeter, 

 and afterwards by Bomnier, in L. Woermanni. The internal 

 tissue is of two kinds: (1) hyphae 2-3 [i wide, undulating, 

 knotty, geniculate but little ramified ; and (2) globose, elliptical 

 or elongate structures 10-20 /a in diameter. With regard to the 

 exterior Schroeter i-ecorded one thin layer composed of brown, 

 strongly interwoven filaments 3-4 fx wide, with a very narrow 

 lumen. Bommer noted a more marked differentiation at the 

 exterior of the sclerotium : an outer layer 50 fj. thick of cells 

 with sclerotised walls, consisting of an inner and outer portion ; 

 beneath this a second la,yer about 75 ^ thick with the hyphal 

 walls less sclerotised. The same differentiation has been observed 

 in certain sections of the sclerotium of L. Tuher-regium, but the 

 layers are not at all so definite as Bommer's account would 

 suggest. 



The felt in the hollows of the sclerotium, first noticed by 

 Bommer, is similar to that of the stipe. In both instances it 

 consists of straight hyphae usually about 2 /x wide with very 

 refringent contents. 



In 1901 Massee (in Kew Bull. 163) published a new species, 

 Lentinus Jiavidus, from Old Calabar. The pileus is described as 

 smooth, the stipe as " densissime velutino-hispidulus, brunnevis," 

 the spores as elliptical 10 X 4 /x. The fungus grows singly fi'om 

 a sclerotium. Miss Wakefield (in Kew Bull. 1912) records the 

 same fungus from Nigeria and suggests that it may possibly be 

 the same as L. Tuber-regium; she kindly showed me the two 

 specimens at Kew, and there is not the slightest doubt that both 

 are young specimens of L. Tuher-regium. In the type-specimen 

 of L.flavidus the squamules are not very well marked, but they 

 are distinctly present. 



It is evident that the plant which was described by Rumphius 

 and so long lost sight of, is fairly common in West Africa, and 

 it is probable that L. Woermanni Cohn & Schroet. and certainly 

 that L. flavidus Mass. are merely stages of the same fungus. 



Two other species of Lentiniis which grow from sclerotia, 

 L. Cyatlius B. & Br. and L. sderoticola Murr., have also been 

 examined. The tyj^es are in the National Herbarium. They 

 are quite distinct from one another and from L. Tuber-regiuiii. 



Polystietus sacer Fr. This .specimen shows an interesting 

 abnormality. A single stipe starts from the sclerotium, which 

 bifurcates a little above halfway. The main stipe evidently grew 

 the more quickly and formed a normal pileus. The branch, 

 though slower in growth, apparently continued to grow some 

 time longer as it has forced its way through the first formed 

 pileus, and then produced a second normal one over it. 



