Dr Fleming on a remarkable Species of Triehia. 167 
manner, to consist of closely interwoven fibres, which could easi- 
ly be traced as taking their rise from the base, or as being mere- 
ly projections of its substance. Many of the fibres of the stems 
terminate on their surface, with their extremities pointing to the 
top, arid give to it a divergingly striated appearance. 
The heads were somewhat larger than the stems on which 
they were supported. Their upper surface was convex, with 
an entire thick circular margin. They were much less transpa- 
rent than either the base or the stems. The fibres of which 
they consisted were much more numerous and closely interwo- 
ven, than those in the other part of the plant, and inclosed a 
small quantity of granular matter, which I was inclined to re- 
gard as the seed. 
When this plant was first observed, the stem and heads ap- 
peared as in the magnified drawing, Figure 6. a, b. When ta- 
ken out of the phial for examination, some of the heads exhibit- 
ed the fibres as beginning to separate from the general mass, as 
represented at e, while the stem remained entire. The Figure d 
exhibits the fibres separating from both the stem and the head, 
intimating the approaching disorganisation of the whole. 
•« > 
From the preceding description, little doubt can remain that 
this plant belongs to the old genus Triehia, and to the more recent 
subdivision of that genus which has been denominated Sphsero- 
carpus. It exhibits, however, the peculiar character of being an 
aquatic or subaqueous plant, and on that account ought pro- 
bably to be regarded as the type of a new genus. If it has not 
been previously described, it may be termed Sph urocarpus for- 
tuitus. The trivial name will serve to indicate the contingent 
circumstances by which a soil was prepared for its germination 
and growth. In this last character, it is more remarkable than 
any of the other fungi with which I am acquainted. It will 
even stand in competition with the Uredo nivalis, that singular 
plant whose soil seems to be the surface of sriow in high lati- 
tudes, and whose history Mr Bauer has lately so successfully 
investigated. 
The solution in which the Spherocarpus fortuitus had vege- 
tated, still contained a considerable quantity of succinic acid. 
The ammoniacal portion, however, had nearly disappeared. 
Manse of Flisk, Fffeshire, ) 
February 21. 1821. ) 
