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XVI. On two New British Fungi. By the Rev. M. J. BERKELEY, M.A., F.L.S. 
(Plate LV.) 
Read April 5th, 1866. 
Is I anuary last I received from Mrs. Holme Sumner, of Great Bookham, Surrey, a 
notice of a beautiful Fungus which was then growing abundantly under a Cedar tree 
in the neighbouring park at Fetcham ; and numerous specimens were sent to me on the 
12th of February. As it is of peculiar interest, from its appearing so early in the year, 
as well as from its very close relation to one figured by Bulliard, which has not recently 
occurred to any mycologist either in this country or on the continent, I venture to 
submit a drawing and short notice of it to the Linnean Society. Though hitherto un- 
recorded in our flora, it has been observed by Mrs. Sumner for many years, always 
appearing in the same spot and at the same early season. 
Peziza lanuginosa, Bulliard, tab. 396. fig. 2, is referred by Fries as a variety to 
Peziza hemispheriea; but its broad, barren, colourless, distinct margin and large size 
seem to separate it, not to mention its reflected border. The species of which I now 
present a drawing agrees exactly with it in colour and clothing; but the trace of 
anything like a barren margin is comparatively very faint, there being nothing more 
than a slight groove, which is only visible under a magnifier, but when so seen is 
sufiiciently distinct. It attains a much larger size, and is distinguished from both 
Peziza hemispherica and Peziza lanuginosa by the cup splitting at an early stage of 
growth into several large segments, which are at length so deeply separated that the 
fungus looks like the outer peridium of a Geaster. Its close affinity with the genus 
Hydnocystis of Tulasne, like which it is at first almost subterraneous, is very striking ; 
but the hymenium in that genus is never perfectly exposed, and the structure of the 
Wall is somewhat different. In Hydnocystis the threads which clothe the surface are 
quite the same, and spring from little warts; but the whole of the substance beneath 
the hymenium is vesicular, the outer vesicles being darker-coloured, while in our Peziza, 
between the hymenium and outer layer, there is a thick stratum consisting of threads 
Whose joints are often swollen, or the articulations constricted. The fruit of the Peziza 
Is highly developed, and agrees very nearly with that of Peziza hemispherica. The para- 
Physes are slightly branched, with clavate tips, the asci cylindrical, each containing a 
single row of broadly fusiform sporidia from +555 to 700 of an inch long, and 5555 to 
Tess broad, and containing one or two large nuclei, with a number of minute globules. 
In Peziza hemispherica the sporidia are more obtuse, and about toog of an inch long. 
The pointed ends are a very uncommon feature in the genus Peziza. I have ‚never seen 
` Specimen of Peziza lanuginosa, and can therefore say nothing about its zer Dat the 
present fungus is most probably only a variety of that species, altered a little in external 
3ppearance from its being so much immersed in the soil The hymenium is at first 
White, but, changes to cream-colour, or to a slight shade of tawny, in decay. 
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