CL. XXIV.] 43. SPATirULARIA FLAVIDA. 4Gl 



\'III. Proper Fungi. 



43. 



Spatliularia flavida, Pcrs. 

 Lclstcnsciiwamm, Nccs. 



In our fir woods, sekloni among hard woods, this funo-us 

 is observed, in the end of summer, and in hardest. It grows 

 on the fohage of the fir, and on other fallen leaves, com- 

 monly surrounded by moss. The whole fungus is commonly 

 only two inches, at most a little finger in length. The stem 

 has its base thick, like a tuber : it is of a straw-yellow co- 

 lour, smooth, about the size of a writing c^uill. Its length v^ 

 somewhat more tlian an inch. Internally it is sometimes hol^- 

 low when it is old : commonly it consists of a double sub- 

 stance, an exterior fibrous part, and an interior cellular. It 

 carries a compressed pileus, of a yellow or reddish-yello-w co- 

 lour, which runs downwards on the side of the stem, and lias 

 the shape of a spade ; at most an inch long and broad, it is 

 smooth all round, but frequently crenated or notched on the 

 margin. It consists of two united hymenia, which internally 

 contain a fine, white cellular texture. At a more advanced 

 age these hymenia separate from each other : the pileus ap- 

 pears then to be inflated, and internally full of soft fibres. 

 From the stem, branchy wrinkles are extended through the 

 cap, which have been regarded by many as veins. In the 

 hymenium we observe,, by the microscope, fine ])cllutid, club- 

 shaped sporidia, with intervening sap-tubes. In the former 

 lie five double-ringed spora?, exactly in the same manner as 

 in Gcoglossum virlde (Tab. I. Fig. 34.), with which this 

 fungus is found in company. During warm sunshine these 

 sporae give out dust like a fine shining cloud, and the plant 

 becomes, by this means, like Pe:nr:a, a bladder fungus ; 

 {Fungus Utrinus, Nces, p. 243.) 



