258 
LETTERS FROM ALABAMA. 
worm, which, on coming to it, I found to proceed 
from a foliaceous lichen or fungus, growing on the 
bark of a tree within reach, in the form of a rosette 
or cockade, about as large as a shilling. The 
substance of this was somewhat fleshy, or rather 
cartilaginous, and was luminous throughout, as if 
penetrated with light, which was feeble, and of a 
pale blue tint, like that which proceeds from wood 
decomposing, under certain circumstances, .and 
known as touchwood. I am not aware that any 
lichen, or, indeed, any plant, is recognised as self- 
luminous in a growing state ; but this I examined 
with too much curiosity, not to be sure of what I 
have stated.^ 
Night was by this time thoroughly set in. A 
dim sepulchral light struggled from the sky above, 
just sufficient to enable us to avoid the trees, but 
all around was shrouded in the most pitchy dark- 
ness. Suddenly we were startled by a voice, 
While these pages were passing through the press, I met 
with the following observations by Dr. Lindley, which show 
that the case above mentioned is not without precedent : — 
The genus Rhizomorpha (which, it may be observed, is a 
spurious genus, consisting of imperfectly developed Sphcerice, 
Polypori^ &c.) vegetates in dark mines, far from the light of 
day, and is remarkable for its phosphorescent properties; In 
the coal mines near Dresden, the species are described as giving 
those places the air of an enchanted castle ; the roof, walls, 
and pillars, are entirely covered with them, their beautiful 
light almost dazzling the eye. The light is found to increase 
with the temperature of the mines. 
Several species of genuine Fungi have been observed to be 
phosphorescent, in various parts of the world. Agaricus Gard- 
neri (Berk.), which grows on a sort of Palm, called Pintada, in 
Brazil, is highly luminous. Such, also, is the case with Agaricus 
olearius, in the south of Europe, as observed by Delille. Mr. 
Drummond has found two or more luminous species at the 
Swan River, and Rumphius observed the same phenomenon in 
Amboyna.” — Veget, Kingd. p. 39. 
