POLYMORPHIC FUNGI. 407 
flocci, it may be from the weight of the spores, were decumbent, 
hence the fertile tufts were not much elevated above the surface of 
the matrix. 
‘This is a most interesting mould belonging to the order of Mu- 
cedines, but it seemed to agree so little with the characters of any 
known -genus, that, on distributing specimens last year, it was 
placed provisionally in a new genus under the name of Clinotri- 
chum lanosum ;* since then, with the advice of some mycological 
friends, it has been referred to the old genus Rhinotrichum, as 
Rhinotrichum lanosum. Without entering here upon the reasons 
which led to this course, or attempting to discuss generic and 
specific distinctions, it is sufficient to indicate that the mould in 
question possessed such positive characters, and was so different 
from all recognized forms, that it not only = claims to be re- 
The mould above described having — $ 
week or two, small blackish spots made their a 
paper, sometimes amongst thin patches of the migala and some- 
times outside them. These spots, at first cloudy and indefinite, 
varied in size, but were usually less than a quarter of an inch in 
diameter. The varnish of the paper was afterwards pushed off 
in little translucent flakes or scales, an erect olivaceous mould 
appeared, and the patches extended to nearly an inch in diameter, 
maintaining an almost universal circular form. 
This new mould sometimes possessed a dirty reddish tint, but- 
was commonly dark olive. There could be no mistake about the 
genus to which this mould belonged ; it had all the essential char- 
acters of Penicillium: erect jointed threads, branched in the 
upper portion in a fasciculate manner, and bearing long beaded 
threads of spores, which formed a tassel-like head, at the apex of 
each fertile thread (Fig. 76). For the benefit of the mycologist, 
we may observe that, although at first reminded of the Penicillium 
olivaceum of Corda by the color of this species, it differs in the 
spores being oblong (Fig. 76, a), instead of globose, and the ram- 
ifications of the flocci are different. Unable again to find a de- 
*CLINOTRICHUM, gen. nov. Hyphasma creeping; fertile flocci septate mbent 
simple, or branched; branchlets alternate, patent, short, bearing at i a a few 
spores attached to short ee spores simple. Type, Clinotrichum lanosum.— 
Cooke, Fungi Brit. Exs. No. 
