17 
MUTINUS BAMBUSINUS, IN BRITAIN. 
Although the circumstance is somewhat unusual and inexplicable, 
it is nevertheless true that a genuine tropical species of Phallus 
has lately made its appearance in the open ground, amongst young 
plum trees in Noble’s Nursery at Sunningdale. This particular 
species is Mutinus bambusinus (Zoll.), formerly called Cynophallus 
bambusinus, but changed in favour of an older generic name which 
has priority. How far it may be advisable to supersede a well- 
known, and generally-accepted, generic name in favour of another, 
simply on the ground of its antiquity, is a question we need not 
discuss. 
By the kindness of Sir J. D. Hooker we examined a fresh speci- 
men of this Mutinus, and were struck at once with the very strong 
and foetid odour which escaped from the box in which it was 
enclosed, whereas our common Mutinus caninus is almost inodorous. 
The rosy stem and more elongated pileus were also striking. This 
species, of which a drawing and specimens may be found in the 
Berkeley Herbarium, from Java, was originally found and named 
by Zollinger, from its habit of growing at the base of bamboo 
clumps, in that island, and we are not aware of any other locality 
until it turned up so unexpectedly at Sunningdale. Whether the 
mycelium was imported with some of the exotics found in a large 
nursery and thus established itself may be probable, since it is 
doubtful whether it ever would have been found in this country 
except under such circumstances. The differences between the two 
species may be gathered from the following diagnoses : — 
Mutinus caninus, Puds. FI. Angl. n., 630. 
Whole fungus about 15 cm. high, inodorous. Stem white, or 
reddish, the walls consisting of one stratum of cavities. Capitulum 
short (i-iof the whole fungus), acutely digitaliform, flesh coloured, 
walls of the internal surface foveolate, apex pervious or impervious. 
Mass of spores dingy olive. Spores 6x4/4. 
On the ground. 
Piate 173. Fig. a , in the egg state; b , just emerging ; c, mature 
fungus ; d , section of same ; e, spores x 400. 
Mutinus bambusinus, Zoll. Syst. Verz. (1854), p. 11. 
Whole fungus about 10 cm. high. Stem pallid rubiginous (or 
rosy), 6-8 mm. thick, the walls containing one stratum of cavities. 
Capitulum long (half the entire length), acutely conical, dingy 
purple, externally rugose, impervious at the apex. Mass of spores 
sooty olive, spores 6 X 4 p. 
On the ground ; originally at the base of bamboo clumps. 
Plate 173. Fig.f, emerging from the volva; g , further advanced ; h, i , 
mature fungus ; Jc, section of base ; l, spores X 460. Figs.f, g, and Tc from 
drawings of Javan specimens, by Kurz. ; h and i from British specimens ; 
Jig. h from drawings by G. Massee. 
