Fungi. 
1, Byssus. 
42 
and new genera formed by almost every observer, in 
consequence of the discovery of new relations. The for- 
mation of new genera, is the necessary consequence of 
the enlargement of the science. Linneus was not ac- 
quainted with an hundred species of fungi; now, their 
number has increased more than ten-fold. To us there- 
fore the Linnean genera have become useless. They 
mark the former state of the science, and they have 
contributed their share to the advancement of the study F 
our systems and our genera, must, in like manner, yield 
to the more extensive and accurate information of fu- 
ture observers. While we approve of the formation of 
new genera, therefore, where the state of the subject 
demands it, we condemn that zeal so conspicuously dis- 
played by some, in the frittering down of the old gene- 
ya into as mahy new ones almost as there are species. 
Such naturalists mistake the object and the end of these 
subdivisions, imprudently attempt to pass beyond the 
bounds which limit the present state of the science, and 
endeavour to anticipate those changes which other dis- 
coveries and more enlarged views will render necessary. 
In this account of the genera, we have confined our- 
selves to those which are sanctioned by high authority. 
These are principally derived from the works of French 
naturalists, who, unrestrained by the fastidious reserve 
of the British character, and possessed of more ample 
means through national munificence, have of late con- 
tributed materially to the enlargement of systematic 
botany and zoology. The description of one species at 
least will be subjoined to each genus, together with a 
reference to those works where faithful representations 
of them may be found. 
TRIBE I. GYMNOCARPI. 
Famity I. Composed of Filaments. 
Genus I. Byssus. The plants which are now re- 
ferred to this genus, exhibit the appearance of fine 
down or velvet, and consist of small filaments, which 
are simple, branched, anastamosing, or interwoven, 
They occur of various colours, as white, yellow, red, or 
brown. Almost all the species included in the first 
section of the genus Byssus of Linnzus still remain un- 
der this title. 
As an example of this genus, we may mention the 
Byssus candida, (Dill. Muse. tab. 1. fig. 15.A.) Its sub- 
stance is tender, woolly, of a white colour, and closely 
pressed to the substance on which it grows. From its 
broad and mucilaginous base arise many slender branch- 
es, spreading more in breadth than height, elegantly 
subdivided, the extremities ending in capillary fibres 
variously branched, or in a thin expanded surface like 
fine paper. It grows upon dead leaves and rotten wood. 
It is the Himantia candida of Persoon. 
Every person must have observed in the beginning 
of summer a greenish scum, floating on the surface of 
small ponds, rendering the water greenish, turbid, and 
hardly drinkable. This substance was considered by 
Linnaeus as belonging to the present genus; but sub- 
sequent naturalists have referred it to the genus Con- 
ferva. Be that as it may, it often proves a great nui- 
sance in wells; and the discovery of any method of 
destroying it must necessarily be acceptable. In the 
spring of 1815, when the workmen were engaged in 
erection of the new light-house on the Isle of May, 
under the inspection of that eminent engineer Robert 
Stevenson, Esq. they were much incommoded by the 
; 
FUNGL 
pearance of this substance on all the wells and -pools 
the island. Quicklime in considerable quantity was 
thrown into the wells, without retarding or destroying 
the growth of this vegetable. At. last: the wells were 
enclosed with walls sufficiently high to exclude the 
light from the water, and this contrivance fortunately 
succeeded in the extermination of a plant which at one 
time threatened to prove a very serious evil. ; 
Genus II. Monta. The plants of this genus are 
composed of slender stalks, which are either simple or 
branched, and resemble the filaments of the 
genus. These stalks bear on their summits small arti- 
culated threads composed of spherical globules, which 
separate when the plant grows ripe. The species of this 
genus bear a very near resemblance to those included in 
the genus Mucor ; but their naked eapsules, joined to 
the want of a vesicular peridium, forbid such a union 
as the incorporation of the two genera. 
Monilia glauca, (Mich. 212. t. 91. £1.) This 
is the Mucor glaucus of Linneus. Its stalks are white, 
simple, and slender; the capsules are agglutinated, the 
one before the other, in diverging lines, representing 
little tufts of feathers, of a spherical form. The: cap« 
sules are round and diaphanous; white at first, but 
turning green as the plant reaches maturity, at which 
period they separate from one another, © This: plant 
grows in tufts, and sometimes scattered, on ; = 
which are in a putrefying state. Another 
this genus, Monilia digitata, the Mucor crustaceus of 
Linneus, is found on corrupting meat, but it differs 
from “2 preceding in having the seeds disposed in an 
umbel. fied ; : 
Genus III. Botrytis. In this genus, the stalks are 3, Ro 
bearing upon their summits na- tT1s. 
straight and branched, 
ked capsules, ina head, or in clusters, the one not 
glutinated to the summit of the other. They 
resemble the genera Manilia, Mucor, and 
They possess an evanescent existence. They are dis« 
tributed into two sections, the first com ding 
those with upright branched fibres, and the second those 
which form a sort of bed from which the upright stalks 
proceed, ? 
Botrytis lignifraga. Sowerby, tab. 378. fig: 144 ma’ 
be sania as an sabeieatn first. It's ws weal 
on the bark of trees, but especially on the Birch) im- 
bedded in the external layers of the bark, piercing the 
epidermis, and forming on the outside tubercular 
masses. These are at first white, and resemble cotton; 
but they afterwards change toa deep green, and become 
powdery, The stalks are slender, crowded, upright, 
and interwoven. The capsules are rounded, and v 
small, Mr Sowerby considers this species and Monil 
glauca as varieties of the same plant, and as constituting 
the much-esteemed blue mould in rotten cheese. 
Botrytis rosea may be given as an example of the 
second section. It is the Mucor roseus of Sowerby, 
Tab. 178. fig. 11. This forms small knobs, which are 
at first white, round, and of a hairy aspect ; afterwards 
they lengthen out, become of a vermilion colour, and 
emit a reddish powder: the base consists of strong, 
straight fibres, from which proceed, at right angles, up- 
right, simple, slender stalks, bearing at their summits 
from two to five oval capsules. It grows chiefly on the 
bark of trees, especially the Alder, also on the decayed 
kernel of nuts and on rotten wood. When growing 
upon trees, this plant usually appears at the opening of 
the glands, or near the place where some insect has 
made a puncture. 
4 
} 
4. AKGE- 
GenusIV. Arcerita. To the naked eye, the plants “—- 
y 
