ro66 CRYPTCGAMIA FUNGI. 



In meadows and paflures frequent in the au- 

 tumn, as in the King's Park^ and at the Hermi- 

 tage, &c. 



It varies exceedingly in flze, figure, fuperf cies, 

 and color. 



In general it confifts of a fack or bag, having a 

 root at its bafe, and the bag coinpos'd of three 

 membranes, an epidermis^ a tougli white fkin, 

 and an interior coat which adheres clofely to 

 the central pith. 



The pith in the young plants is of a yellowifli 

 color, at firft firm and folid, but foon changes 

 into a cellular fpongy fubftance, full of a dark 

 dull-green powder, which dil'charges itlelf thro' 

 an aperture at the top of the Fungus, w hich 

 aperture is form'd of lacerated iegments, in 

 fome varieties reflex'd. 



The powder is believ'd to be the feeds, which 

 through a microfcope appear of a fphsrical 

 form, and to be annex'd to claftic hairs. See 

 Halter's Hi ft. Hehet. n. '2172. 



Among the numerous varieties of this Fungus, the 

 following are moft remarkable. 

 flah'um, ^' -^ fmooth lefiile kind, of a nearly fpha:rkal 

 form, pucker'd or contraded at the root. 



This fometimes grows to an enormous fize. It 

 has been found in England as big as a man's 

 head \ and at Carraria, near Fadm, in //^/y, 



ipecimens 



