On the Fructification of the genera Clathrus and Phallus. 327 
Fig. 9. Sterope armatus. 
Fig. 10, Sterope interruptus. 
Fig. 11. Sterope ovalis. 
Fig. 12. Carrillus oblongus. 
Fig. 18. Second thoracic leg of Carrillus oblongus. 
Fig. 14. First abdominal extremity of Carri/lus. 
Fig. 15, Second abdominal extremity. 
XXXVII.—On the Fructification of the genera Clathrus and 
Phallus. By M. Maurice Luspravutr*. 
Tue Rey. M. J. Berxetey, in a notice published in 1839+, 
described the fructification of Phallus caninus, Huds. (Cyno- 
phallus caninus, Fries) ; he demonstrated by delicate observations, 
that, in this genus, until then wrongly separated from the Hyme- 
nomycetes, or rather the Basidiospore of Léveillé, the spores were 
supported on basidia, as in the Boleti, the Agarici, and other 
mushrooms of the same class. Mr. Berkeley thence presumed 
that an analogous organization must be found in all the Phal- 
loidee, but no further recent observations had as yet supported 
this hypothesis. 
M. Corda, whose analyses have thrown so much light on the 
intimate structure of Fungi, denies the existence of the basidia in 
the genus Phallus : “ Spore in strata congeste, muco primum firmo 
dein diffluente immerse, simplices, basidia nullat.” (Anleitung, 
ps 119)) 
The investigations of botanists on this subject have not gone 
further ; the fructification of the genus Clathrus is still more im- 
perfectly known. Nor can we be surprised, when the analysis of 
these mushrooms presents such great difficulties. 
It is, in fact, not sufficient to. subject to examination indivi- 
duals little developed or inclosed in their volva; the substance 
which contains the fructiferous organs must be firm and of an 
almost fleshy consistence. As soon as it has begun to soften, the 
spores are displaced, and the basidia disappear. It is moreover 
very difficult, even with the aid of a perfectly fine-pointed lancet, 
to remove very thin sections of a mucilage which yields to the 
slightest pressure: we are therefore obliged, in order to obtain 
* Translated from the Annales des Sciences Naturelles for July.—The 
position which Clathrus cancellatus should occupy in the class of the Ba- 
sidiospore, aud the mode of insertion of the spores of this curious plant, 
have been already established by Mr. Léveillé, but, notwithstanding the 
priority and accuracy of the observations of M. Léveillé, we think the me- 
moir of M. Lespiault , who has extended his researches to other plants of 
the group of the Phalloidea, will be read with interest.—(£d. Ann. des Sci, 
Nat.) 
+ Annals of Natural History, vol. iv. p. 155. 
} There is no question here of the Phallus caninus, which has become the 
type of a new genus. 
