344 INTRODUCTION TO CEYPTOGAMIC BOTANY. 



two distinct coats, of which the inmost, which immediately 

 incloses the fruit, is small and suspended under the common 

 orifice, or accurately fills the cavity. The orifice itself is 

 curiously plicate, and is often beautifully ornamented with 

 vermilion, as if laid on with a brush. 



371. A very curious genus* has been sent me by Mr. Curtis, 

 which occurs on the heads of fruit of Gyperus Irio, in the south 

 of India. The peridium is double, very thin and membrana- 

 ceous, about ^ of an inch in diameter, the outer coat being 

 traversed by a net work of veins. The central mass consists of 

 straight flocci mixed with globose argillaceous spores, varying 

 in diameter from ~ to ^^ of an inch ; each containing a large 

 nucleus. The most singular point, however, is that the stem 

 is a twisted mass of shining threads, resembling, though but 

 distantly, the stem of Mitremyces. Whether this is really 

 Myxogastrous or Trichogastrous, is at present uncertain. It 

 seems to stand on the confines of both. 



372. These Fungi are found in a great diversity of climates. 

 Lyco'perdon occurs in very high latitudes, as at Disco Island, 

 and also in the heart of India ; while Bovista exhibits the 

 finest and most perfect species in the plains of India, though 

 a frequent inhabitant of colder latitudes. Geaster, again, 

 occurs in very different climates, but does not affect such cold 

 latitudes, and is represented in the tropics by many species. 

 Broomeia has at present occurred only in the south of Africa. 

 Husseia has been found only on Adam's Peak, in Ceylon. 

 Tulostoina ascends far to the north, but its finest species affect 

 warmer cHmates. Mycenastrutn is found only in warmer 

 districts, as is also the case with Batarrea, which scarcely 

 ascends higher than Norfolk. Mitremyces was supposed to 

 be confined to the warmer parts of the United States, but 

 the genus has now occurred in Van Dieman s Land, Java, the 

 Cape, and in the parts of India to the north and north-east of 

 Calcutta. On the whole, the nobler forms are those of warmer 

 climates. 



373. Lycoperdon, as stated above, affords some esculent 



* Aglceooyslis Tiidica, Berk, and Curt. 



