96 MESSRS. F. CURREY AND D. HANBURY ON SCLEROTIUM STIPITATUM, 



rizable. The specimens of Clioo-ling vary mucli in size as well as in form. The largest we 

 have (and which is drawn in PI. IX. fig. 10) weighs 481 grains, and the smallest 15 grains ; 

 the average of 46 specimens is 86 grains. All exhibit a thin, black, more or less shrivelled 

 cuticle, closely investing the uniform, corky, cream-coloured substance of which the mass 

 of the tuber consists. 



4. Mylitta lapklescens, Horaninow, in Tatarinov, Catal. Medicamentorum Sinensiuxn 

 (Petrop. 1856), p. 34. 



Lui u6n, Cleyer, Specimen Medicinoe Sinicae (1682), Med. Simp. No. 227. 

 •^ *fe> [Luy-wan), Pun-tsaou-kang-muh, cap. xxxvii. sect. 4 (cum icone). 

 ^C^LJDI [n~av)55Li) Carom-pallagum. 



The fourth tuberiform substance to which we have alluded is that named by Horaninow 

 Mylitta Icqndescens. Specimens of this production, both from India and China, are drawn 

 in PL IX. figs. 14-17. In a dry state they are extremely hard, so much so that, in the 

 case of the Indian specimens, they might easily be supposed at first sight to be some stony 

 substance from the chalk-beds out of which they are dug. There can be no doubt, how- 

 ever, of their vegetable nature, and hut little, we think, as to their affinity with the 

 hypogaeous fungi. Although no trace of fruit is discernible, the inner substance is marked 

 with veins, and a microscopic section shows the division of the tissue into areolcB similar 

 to that exhibited by the hypogseous fungi. It is not easy to say whether it is truly of 

 parasitic growth, though the natives of India assert it to be so. It will be seen, by 

 referring to PL IX. fig. 15, that the specimen there represented has a small root-like ex- 

 crescence on the left-hand side ; and this excrescence, of which we have examined sections, 

 is certainly of woody structure, although we are unable to say to what plant it belongs. 

 Out of fifty Chinese specimens, however, only four exhibit these roots, which it is possible 

 may be of accidental occurrence. The largest of these specimens weighs 106 grains, and 

 the smallest 5 grains, the average weight of 50 being 24-6 grains. The largest Indian 

 specimen weighs 268 grains. 



We are informed by Dr. Waring that the native Indian name, Carom-pallagum, means 

 literally. Black pallagiim, pallagiim signifying a medicinal substance. Our specimens are 

 all grey or brown rather than black ; but the wrinkles on the surface, which are very 

 minute and which cannot be seen clearly without a lens, are of a very dark colour. It is 

 possible that the specimens, when moist and fresh, may be of a darker colour than when 

 in the hard and dry condition in which they reach this country. We think it hardly 

 probable that the dry specimens in our possession should be brought to fructify, although 

 the instance of Ergot of Hye producing fruit after having been baked in an oven shows 

 that fungi may undergo a good deal of hard treatment without losing their vitality. 



We are experimenting with the Mylitta ; and if we succeed in causing it to produce 

 fruit, we shall not fail to report the result. 



