30G BOTANICAL NOTES 



sliaped leaves, is also to be seen : and, amongst other plants, I should 

 refer to So'anum vitiense and Crotalaria quinquefolia. Tall sedges, such 

 as Ci/iienis canesceus and Mariscus phleoides^ are to be commonly observed. 

 Lastly, I should notice two small scitamiueous plants, the " naki:i," a 

 wild ginger, and the "temuli," the root of which has mediciual proper- 

 tics, whilst its yellow juice is used for staining purposes. 



A species of Pachyma ? ? 



Whilst at the island of Santa Anna in October, 1882, my attention was 

 directed by Mr. WilUam Macdonald and Mr. Heughan to a carious veget- 

 able substance, not unlike a yam in appearance, which is found lying loose 

 on the soil. The specimens I obtained varied between one and five pounds 

 in weight, but much larger examples have been obtained. The interior of 

 the substance is white in colour, and sometimes has a waxy look. A large 

 slab wiiich had been whittled out by a native resembled a cake of com- 

 pressed flour. There were many curious speculations as to the nature of 

 these growths. In the estimation of the inhabitants of the island, they are 

 poisonous, and they have received from them the name of " testes diaboli ;" 

 but I could gather but little information from the natives on the subject 

 except to the effect that they are also commonly found on St. Christoval.^ 

 However, some time later I was informed by Mr. Stephens of Ugi that some 

 mushroom-like growths were borne by a specimen that he kept, which after 

 a few weeks fell away. I subsequently gave some of these singular masses 

 to j\[r. Chailes Moore, the Director of the Sydney Botanic Gardens. 



Three years passed away and I had almost forgotten about the matter, 

 when I accidentally came upon some substances, closely resembling these 

 masses, which are exhibited in the Botanical Department of the British 

 Museum. 'J hoy are libelled Pacliyma Cocos (Fries) from China. On my 

 asking Mr. George Murray concerning their nature, I was pleased to learn 

 that ho liad been taking a special interest in these growths; and he showed 

 me a specimen obtained by the Rev. Mr. Whitmee in Samoa, from which a 

 fiinnel-s!ap.'d fungus, about six inches high, was growing. This specimen 

 Avas very similar to those of the Solomon Islands. 



Verv recently, Mr. G. Murray has embodied the results of his investiga 

 tions of these growths in a shoi't paper read l)efore the Linncan Society, in 

 which Mr. Whitmce's specimen is figured (Trans. Linn. Soc, 2nd ser. Bot., 

 vol. ii., part 11). From this source I learn that Rumphius was the first to 

 describe these tuberous masses and their associated fungi from Amboina. 

 The former, whicli lie named Tuher regium, were stated to afford remedies 

 nscful in diarrhocn, fevers, A:c. The fungi were said to shoot out from them 

 during showers of warm rain on a fine day, or when there Avas thunder in 

 the air. l-'rom the description and illustration given by Rumphius, Mr. 

 Fries rcgirded the growth as a fungus belonging to the genus Lentinus, 

 springing irom a Pachyma (of which the Indian Bread of Nortli America^ 

 Pachyma cocos, is an example). Strange to say, however, these tubers, 

 which are found also in China and other parts of the world, have never 

 been found with a fungus attached since the time of Rumphius. Mr. 

 Whitmee's specimen, therefore, had considerable interest. It is shown 

 by ;Mr. Murray to correspond strikingly with Tuher regium and to have the 

 structure of a true *•' sclerotiiim " (not of Pachyma), with a fungus of a 

 species of Leutinvs growing from it. All the facts go to prove that the 

 fungus and the tuberous mass do not form part of the same growth, but 



^ In the evcnt'of it proving edible, Mr. Heiigban cooked a specimen, but only a tastc'esa 

 substance resulted. 



