56 Physiology oj the Gyropodium coccineum, 



BOTANY. 



Art. X. — Physiology of ^h.e Gyropodium coccineum ; by 

 the Rev. Ebward Hitchcock. 



The Gyropodium coccineum is a new genus and spe- 

 cies of fungus recently established by the Rev. L. Schwei- 

 nitz. I am not aware that it has been found any where 

 except near Connecticut River in Massachusetts, where it 

 was first noticed by Dr. Cooley, in Deerfield. That locality, 

 however, was soon exhausted ; but in Oct. 1822, 1 found it in 

 abundance in Whately, an adjoining town, and noticed with 

 much interest its peculiar and striking physiology. As se- 

 vere frosts had occurred, however, previous to that time, I 

 thought it possible there might be some deception in the 

 case, and determined to wait till I could re-examine the 

 plant under different circumstances. But it was not till the 

 present year, (1824) that I was able again to visit the spot. 

 I gathered it this year in September, before the occur- 

 rence of frosts ; and found all my former observations veri- 

 fied, and was able to extend them still farther. 



In the following remarks, it is not my intention, any far- 

 ther than is necessary, to use botanical, but common lan- 

 guage.* For if I mistake not, the facts are such as to in- 

 terest, not only those acquainted with botanical phraseolo- 

 gy, but likewise all, who love to trace the marks of divine 

 wisdom in the works of creation. 



It is one singularity in this fungus, that it is composed 

 almost entirely of a substance scarcely to be distinguished 

 from common gelatine obtained from animals, varying in 

 consistency from the softest jelly to quite hard glue. The 

 drawings accompanying this paper, represent the plant in 

 its natural size. Its first appearance, on bursting from the 

 soil, is given at A. It is then enclosed in a gelatinous en- 



*If Mr. Schweinitz has published a description of this fungus, I have 

 not seen it. 



